Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about why I am running the London Marathon.

“Sue Ryder is here to make sure everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need. There is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need, but with Sue Ryder's support, no one has to face dying or grief alone. They are there when it matters.”

I saw these principles in action when confronted with the very sudden reality of my Grandpa, Philip Vaux, being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late 2022 and being told he had months to live. The promised months were in fact weeks and at the end of the most difficult few days of my life grappling with the rapid decline in my Grandpa’s health, endless emergency services, and overworked and overtired doctors in an overcrowded and under-resourced A&E department in the small hours of the night, in large part thanks to the tenacity of my mother, Grandpa arrived at Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope.

The most turbulent and undignified of days, emerging into the calm dignity of Manorlands, where Grandpa would spend his final days being expertly cared for and respected. Manorlands allowed me, and the rest of my family, an opportunity to say goodbye to him in the way you would hope to. Whilst Grandpa may not have been aware of his surroundings, we were, and I will forever be grateful for the care and comfort that he received at the end of his life.

As I think shines through in the photos, my Grandpa was just the loveliest, kindest, funniest, cheekiest, most-‘gandfartherly’ Grandpa you could imagine. I’m lucky to have an endless supply of memories that will make me smile each time I think of him, but I am even more lucky - and grateful - that my very final memories of him will be of a man at peace, and not in pain, and I have Manorlands to thank for that.

It costs £15,000 a day (!) to run Manorlands and £3,244 for someone to be cared for in their final days by a Sue Ryder nurse. Your donation will make a tangible difference to ensuring someone’s final days and hours are dignified, painless and peaceful.

Your donation, no matter how big or small, will motivate me more than you know to reach that finish line.

Thank you!

For those still reading…running the London Marathon is the culmination of my own, personal journey. A few years ago, I couldn’t have imagined that I would ever have even contemplated running a marathon, let alone be in the thick of training for one. I simply wouldn’t be capable of doing this if it weren’t for the life changing support I’ve received from my friend and trainer Rob McNeill and it would be remiss of me not to give him a shoutout for being there with me on my journey from somebody that, mentally and physically, I no longer recognise, to the person I am today.

For anybody reading this who is thinking of making a similar change, please check out Rob's website: https://www.rjmonlinecoaching.com.