Hello everyone!

My weekly 5km runs are about to get a lot longer, eeek! I will be running the 2024 London Marathon in memory of my dad, Ian, who died of cancer in 2018. He was the glue to our family, the party starter and King of the Bar. I've never run a marathon before so this is a HUGE challenge!

My dad (Ian) died in 2018 at just 56 years of age. He was diagnosed with bowel cancer, which had already spread to his liver and bones. The news was shattering for our family. Those next 8 months were a conveyor belt of medicine, scans, blood tests, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, custard slices (to keep his weight on) tears, anger and a whole lot more. And during all of it, Phyllis Tuckwell supported dad and us from the sidelines.

So, if there is one charity that will get me through this ALMIGHTY challenge, it'll be Phyllis Tuckwell. They are the most incredible hospice that delivers unmatched care in the community. They offer respite and palliative care during the hardest, yet most precious times for loved ones.

They sent care teams to our home, night nurses and offered a bed for dad in the hospice. Dad was made comfortable at home by their teams and we trusted them. They invited us for counselling, and prepared my mum, sister and I for the inevitable. In our moments of fear, the nurses were warm and friendly, they, somewhat, lifted us with their visits. After 8months, the time came, we held dad's hands as he left us.

Phyllis Tuckwell continued to call. They offered us grief counselling and supported us through the hard year of firsts without dad. They were unbelievable, they knew how the story unfolded and prepped us for every step of the way.

I know I won't be the only one to have suffered a loss of a parent or loved one from terminal cancer or illness. 1 in 2 people are diagnosed with some form of cancer which means that Phyllis Tuckwell is only ever going to become a service in higher demand than what it already is. Yet, The Government/NHS usually only provide around 20% of their income, so they have to raise over £25,000 every single day to offer all their services.

... and whilst I like to think that no one has to go through what dad did, we all know that it happens all too often. So, in memory of dad, who fought the battle of cancer, my fundraising target is to donate £2,000 back to the wonderful hospice who helped him.

If you are able to donate something small to my target, I'd be forever grateful.

Thank you for reading.

Xxx