Firstly, thank you so much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have challenged myself to run the AJ Bell Great North Run 2024 with an aim to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support.

Macmillan Cancer Support is a UK-based charity organization that provides practical, emotional, and financial support to people affected by cancer. They offer a wide range of services, including information and advice on cancer diagnosis and treatment, emotional support through counseling and support groups, financial assistance for those struggling with the costs of cancer, and specialist healthcare services. Macmillan also funds research to improve cancer treatment and care, and they campaign for better cancer services and policies. Overall, their aim is to ensure that no one faces cancer alone, providing support throughout the cancer journey for patients, their families, and carers.

The reason I chose this charity however is very personal to me. In May of 2022 my dad was diagnosed with secondary liver cancer from an unknown primary source. We used to do everything together, Parkruns (he did over one hundred), watch football (whether that was our beloved Derby County or any other team for that matter), watch the NFL or just mess about and have a laugh together. He was the fittest and healthiest man I knew as he just loved being active. However, just 13 weeks later, on the 20th of August 2022 at just 57 years of age I lost my best friend.

This race again has a sentimental reason for me. My father in 2008 ran this exact race. As an avid runner he completed the race 16 years ago for a charity himself. He ran the race in 2 hours and 26 minutes all to support the British Heart Foundation. This was chosen due to him losing his Father at the age of 54. So this race for me felt the only option and following in his footsteps (literally) the best option!

While growing up my father was my biggest supporter and was always there to make me smile. He was my best friend and even though he used to work early and get back late, we always found time to have a laugh and a joke with each other. When I was younger I competed in many sports and every time I did so, he was there to watch and film and support me. He made me feel as if I was a superstar every time I competed.

We used to go and watch our favourite football team together. In fact I had a Derby County season ticket with my dad from the age of 5 until I went to university at 18. We’d been to every home game together for 13 years, we even had the luxury (not that it felt that way with the results) of going to Wembley twice! I have so many memories of times at Pride Park with my dad but one that will always last with me was our final home game of the 2021/2022 season against Cardiff. We lost the game 1-0 but I remember due to the circumstances the club was in taking pictures and videos of that game as I wasn’t sure if it’d be the last time I saw the rams play. I felt teary that day not knowing if it was the clubs last game in existence but little did I know then I’d be glad I had those videos and pictures as they’d be the last game I attended with my old man sat with me. All I can think now is I’m glad he was here long enough to see the club get saved and the start of the new chapter.

My dad has always been an inspiration to me. In fact everytime people ask me what goals I have for my life I always say the same things as he used to say. I wish for my children to be safe and comfortable and to never have to worry as to what they have to do. I want to provide and I want to give them security. My ultimate goal in life is for my children to be able to grow up and never have to worry about what they do, they are able to do what they want as opposed to what they have to do to support their family.

My dad was always a supportive person and would help anyone that would need it. That’s mainly why I chose MacMillan, because alongside all the amazing work they do to help find a cure for this disease, they also support people going through it, and that reminds me of him, because like MacMillan he would never let anyone face a challenge alone.