Hey there,

My name is Thomas Grewcock,

2025 marks the 5th year of the unfortunate passing of my amazing mother, Lisa Jayne Brown. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t miss her. I want to remember this anniversary by doing something special. Mum would always see the positive sides to life, therefore I want to turn my unfortunate position into something positive. That is why this year I am raising money for McMillian Cancer Support by challenging myself to complete the Greater Manchester Half Marathon, on the 18th of May. All in memory of the most incredible woman.

To many, Lisa was known as family, friend, a teacher; but to me, she was my mum. Mum would light up every room she would walk into, whether that was at home, out and about in Hinckley, or working at Richmond/Redmoor. A true social butterfly. There aren’t many people like her who have a pure heart of gold.

When I was really young, I used to be confused when walking round the house, as I would see wigs lying around. I used to think mum was playing dress up, when really, she didn’t want 3-year-old me to know that she had breast cancer. I wasn’t able to comprehend what was happening until I was older. Mum underwent chemotherapy and we were unsure whether she’d make it through.

As I got older, I was able to understand life better, mum explained to me what had happened to her, and I began to cry. I said to her, “what if it comes back”. Which she replied, “mummy had a treatment so it can’t hurt her anymore”.

Lisa then lived happily and healthy for many years, until 2020 where an accident happened while she was working. She told me one of her pupils had pulled her chair away as she went to sit down. She had a pain in her lower back; however, this pain didn’t seem to be going. After a couple of months and multiple trips to Leicester Royal Infirmary, we had found out that Mum’s breast cancer had come back. All of a sudden Covid-19 came out of nowhere, making it really difficult for Mum to be seen properly and have the treatment she needed.

Lockdown stopped me from seeing mum so I was never truly able to understand how Ill she was becoming. As social distancing eased, I was able to spend my 16th and Mum’s 50th birthday with her. She was her classic self, really bubbly, jolly and happy. My brother Leo and Nan Joyce said to me, “that’s the best Mum’s been in weeks”. This was strange as I didn’t believe she was Ill; she seemed so normal.

Doing this race in May has sentimental value to me because it’s mine and Mum’s birth month.

As time went on, mum’s cancer kept spreading. I never realised how bad her situation was becoming, until I had a knock on the door from one of our family friends, at the end of June 2020. I was told mum’s cancer has got out of hand and is uncurable. “She will have 4 weeks to 4 months left to live”.

July 1st 2020 was the last day I ever saw her. I biked round to the old family house to see her lying on a pop-up hospital bed, in the living room. She had lost her hair and wasn’t able to talk or move. Nan Joyce said to me, “Your mum is unresponsive Tom, but she’s able to hear you”. This was very challenging. Seeing her like that was really traumatising. Usually; a lady full of love, a presence of positivity and a voice of vibrance, slowly deteriorating in front of my own eyes.

July 2nd 2020, I woke up to receive a phone call from my brother Leo. “Mum passed away in the night, she’s not in pain any more. We think she was holding on to see you one last time Tom”.

Weeks went by and I didn’t tell anyone about what had happened. None of my friends knew because I didn’t want anything to change whilst I was with them. I used to try and trick myself into thinking she was just on a long holiday. I still struggle to this day to accept that she is no longer here. It’s took me a lot of courage to speak about this topic of my life. I am a young lad who just wants to make himself and his mum proud.

This brings me to today. Taking some of mum’s optimism, I want to shape this unfortunate event in my life into something positive and special. That is why I will be running in the Greater Manchester Half Marathon, on 18th May 2025. I have never been a good runner and is why I am setting myself this challenge. I want to keep spreading positivity and hope, as I know mum would be doing exactly that if she was still here.

Any donations will be really appreciated and will go straight to MacMillian Cancer Support.

Thank you for taking time to read my story.

I love you mum, Together in Electric Dreams.