I have joined Young Lives vs Cancer and a very special family on their journey with this fantastic charity to raise funds for the amazing work Young Lives vs Cancer do to support children with cancer, their families and carers.

I first met Becky and her family at the gate during school drop off in 2023. She was always smiling, friendly and so welcoming. Despite everything she was going through with her son's health and his subsequent cancer diagnosis, she always asked how everyone else was doing and kept the atmosphere positive.

Running has never been my favourite activity but when she mentioned she was signing up for a half marathon in support of this incredible charity, I immediately knew I wanted to do this with her.

I have had the privilege of seeing Jack's incredible recovery and the strength and resilience of his family. Any small step I can take to help this charity provide the same support to another family is worth its weight in gold.

This is Becky and her family's story:

"On Tuesday 12th December 2023 our gorgeous little boy had a routine ultrasound at GOSH as part of his 3 monthly kidney surveillance. Our world came crashing down when I was pulled into a room to meet his oncologist and other medical staff to be told he had Bilateral Wilms Tumour (Kidney Cancer) and he would be admitted immediately onto the children’s cancer ward to start weekly chemotherapy.

After 10 rounds of chemotherapy, a very poorly baby and a family running on empty, Jack was able to have his life saving surgery and have his right kidney removed and 30% of his left kidney removed too. Following a 3 week hospital stay we received the amazing news that the operation was a success and he was Cancer Free!!!!

Throughout the whole process (nightmare) Young lives vs Cancer supported us every step of the way. From helping us with paper work, transport, a friendly voice at the end of the phone but most of all our accommodation. We stayed in “Pauls house” which is a short walk from GOSH. A place where we could come and go at any time, wash our clothes, cook, have a sleep during the day when it got too much in the hospital and be surrounded by parents just like us. A place like this is invaluable to families like ours and without the support of fund raisers it wouldn’t be possible."

When a child is diagnosed with cancer life becomes full of fear, for them and their family. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, overwhelming money worries, of having nowhere to turn, no one to talk to.

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we help families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. But every day 12 more children and young people hear the devastating news they have cancer. We’ll face it all together – but we can’t do it without you.

To find out more visit www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk