Sooo, having two young children (three if you count the husband, ha ha), and working as a nurse practitioner should be enough for most people. But not me. That would make life way too easy.

So what do I do? I sign up to to run the 2025 London Marathon, the biggest physical and mental challenge I have ever taken on.

So, why would I sign myself up to do this? Apart from loving a challenge!

Summer of 2010, my mum, Marie Greenfield was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Her symptoms - intermittent loss of voice. After weeks of the GP saying it was a viral illness, one of the ENT doctors mum worked with took her for a procedure and found the nerve serving the vocal cords was being compressed by a mass.

She was then treated by a team of doctors from three different NHS trusts, and commenced on a treatment plan. The chemotherapy treatments took their toll but mums stoicism (or just plain Scottish stubbornness) made her a fighter.

Spring 2011 was the first time I saw Mum cry since the diagnosis. It still breaks my heart to this day thinking of that moment. She had just received the news that she was in remission. Her hair was growing back baby soft and fluffy and she was feeling stronger. Time to feel positive, and I really did. I was convinced it was over and she was going to be fine.

Later that spring Mum was readmitted back into hospital. The lymphoma had spread. It had come back into her brachial plexus and lymph nodes of her left arm and she was slowing losing the use of her arm. Chemotherapy commenced again along with radiotherapy. This time the treatment plan took a bigger toll on mums body. Her heart was struggling and kept flipping into a dangerously high rate. With these episodes she ping ponged from the oncology ward into intensive care and back.

The afternoon of 2nd September 2011, my dad called myself, brother and sister to say we should make our way to the hospital. Mum was back in intensive care; her immune system was basically non existent, her lungs had filled with fluid/infection and the only thing the doctors could do now was to keep her comfortable.

Her last words to me were 'i'm still here tooties' (the nickname she'd always called me).

Her heart rate and breathing slowed and she passed away peacefully at 08:45 on 3rd September surrounded by her family.

This disease took away my mum too soon, she didn’t get to see me become a nurse, choose my wedding dress and she wasn't there on the day of my wedding. She didn't get to see my two beautiful boys. All momentous occasions when you just want your mum.

I will never get over losing my mum, I will still have a little cry when I think of her, and I will still get angry that she wasn't there in the big moments.

That's why every penny I raise will be going to Lymphoma action.

Training is well underway and I know I can and will cross that finish line, with hopefully, a smile on my face and maybe even in a decent time! I'd like to thank you all in advance for taking the time to read my motivation for running the London Marathon and donating to such a worthy cause. Feel free to join me on some training runs, send through motivational messages or push me to get out and run in the cold.

I hate the cold!!

Please read below how the raised funds from the Marathon can be used to help others either with a diagnosis, with Lymphoma or seeing a loved one go through the diagnosis.

Lymphoma Action is the UK’s only charity dedicated to lymphoma, the fifth most common cancer.

We’ve been providing in-depth, expert information and wide-ranging support for over 30 years, helping thousands of people affected by lymphoma. Our work drives improvements in the diagnosis, treatment, and aftercare of lymphoma.

We’re here for everyone affected by lymphoma. https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/