In May, I’ll be running the Bristol 10k in memory of my dad who I lost this August. Those who know me or my dad, will know he was diagnosed with a brain tumour(glioblastoma) in August of 2021 and under went an awake brain surgery, surgery on his spine, nine rounds of chemotherapy and forty five sessions of radiotherapy. Despite the doctors and the nurses best efforts in February 2024, there was no more that they could do to treat my dad. In the May of last year, I was on the sidelines cheering along everyone running for their own cause and that inspired me to sign up for my own cause.

When I phoned my dad to tell him I was running this 10k, he was so chuffed especially as the running gene had seemed to skip me. He’d always loved to be active, riding his bike for as long as I can remember and then taking up running when mum did to be ‘better than her’. As the months went on, dad was less in control of his body, losing the ability to do anything without assistance. This was so heartbreaking to watch, trying to tell a stubborn man he couldn’t do something was hard but watching his body not listen to his mind was even harder. When we said our final goodbyes, I wrote a speech to read at his funeral and in this I promised dad I’d never take for granted my ability to move. So what better way to honour him by this 10k? I just know if he was here now for my training and my run I wouldn’t hear him shut up about it and he’d be so proud❤️.

Brain tumours kill more adults and children under the age of 40 than any other cancer, only 12% of everyone diagnosed with a brain tumour live longer than 5 years but tragically only 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to Brain Tumour Research. The time to act is NOW, all money donated will go towards doubling the survival and half the harm🧠🩷.

My dad was the best man in my life and so many other people’s lives and everyone who got the privilege to meet him knows what a smiley, caring and loving man he was. I don’t want anyone else to have to go the heartbreak we have had to go through. We must find a cure for this devastating disease.

If you have read this, thank you🩷. Dad is my biggest inspiration, he taught me have to be brave and find the joy in everything and I want to share his story constantly with the world.

Thank you for all of the donations! See you in May🧠🩷.