On the 7th January 2021 the world lost one of it's truly brightest stars after a short battle with an ultra rare Small Cell Neuroendocrine Cancer.  Nicola was such a special person who gave so much to so many and nearly always without any expectation of anything in return, this was Nicola's most endearing quality along with her ability to light up a room and make it feel energised.  Cancer does not discriminate!  Nicola was my Wife and my biggest inspiration and now over 7 months have gone by it is time for me, my Sons and our friends to give back in the way that Nicola always did.

Neuroendocrine Tumours are rare meaning the cause for them is not yet fully understood and to compound matters for those sadly enough to be affected by them, the funding around research of this Cancer is not massive.  Nicola was formally diagnosed with a Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma on 7th May 2019, a day that I will never forget.  We had just come back from an amazing trip to Dubai and she was looking great (she always did to be fair) but neither of us could expect what was to come.  Until you or someone you know and love are impacted by Cancer you will not truly understand what it is like to look them in the eye and say 'it is going to be okay' whilst in your own mind wondering what the hell you are going to do and where you will seek the support.  It is when I look back at this time I feel compelled to do more for those people who are themselves in this moment and there are a great many people going through this experience each and every day.

In doing a Tough Mudder, myself and my Sons are doing our little bit to support the NET charity and if we all did that 'little bit' it will hopefully add up to a lot and positively impact on those people who need it most.  Nicola lived her life with huge positivity and love and during her Cancer journey this did not stop, in fact her strength grew along with her willingness to understand Cancer and also to help and inspire others.  I see everyday her legacy in the strength of my Sons who are the living embodiment of what Nicola represented, positivity, energy, strength of character, love and above all the ability to think of others even in their own time of need.  

It has been a difficult road to this point for all those that knew Nicola, such was her impact on the world and on the 21st August this road will be 10 miles long and full of obstacles.  Like Nicola however the 12 of us taking on the challenge will do so fully committed and with an open heart so I am sure there will be blood, sweat and tears along the way but also plenty of laughter and memories created.

If you can donate then I would be truly grateful and so too Joshua, Iwan, Nathan, Julian, John, Tim, Paul, Jack, Felipe, James and Matt.

Thanks for reading this and if you have time check out the Neuroendocrine Cancer website for more details: https://www.neuroendocrinecancer.org.uk/

Darryl x

#4NIC