Why I'm running the Barcelona Marathon

In 2011, when I was 12 years old, my Mum, Frankie, was diagnosed with throat cancer. Here are my memories, some blurry, some crystal clear.

Sitting in the car whilst she had her scan and sitting on the sofa after school when I found out the news are two of my most vivid childhood memories. As you'd expect, the first question I asked was "Are you going to die?" and I was told there is a 99.9% chance that this wouldn't be the case.

Soon after, Mum began chemotherapy and started going through the "usual" cancer journey. However, when she came home something wasn't right. She couldn't eat and was going downhill quickly. I remember her drinking a thin yoghurt'y drink through a straw so she could get something of "substance" into her body.

Later that day, someone must have thought enough is enough as we went to hospital. Upon arriving at hospital, she was rushed into intensive care and we were told a few more hours and that would have been that. Thank god for that straw.

Turns out, my Mum is one of the very rare people to not have the enzyme that breaks down chemotherapy. So instead of killing the cancerous cells and saving my Mum, it was killing her.

For the next 6 weeks, my Mum was in intensive care. During that time, she had a stroke, 4 epileptic fits and we were told multiple times as a family to say our goodbyes.

I remember asking my favourite doctor one day what they were giving my Mum as she had so many tubes coming out of her to which she replied "Everything we've got". Not overly reassuring but I appreciated the honesty.

Whatever concoction it was, it worked. By some miracle, and after a further 4 weeks on the Mulbarton ward, my Mum left the N&N Hospital and we are all incredibly lucky to have Mum by our sides to this day.

During that whole period, the support our family received was phenomenal. I can't not mention the Michael, Harrad and Robb families when it comes to support but the reason for this post is the support that the Big C provided. For this part, I'm going to steal some words from the star of the show, over to you Mum:

"Having my whole family benefit from the enormous and very varied support received from Big C whilst I was ill truly opened my eyes to the reasons and need for the centres. In general those lucky enough never to have experienced cancer assume the treatment needed to fight this horrible disease is chemo and radiotherapy. However, Big C and other cancer support charities provide another vital clog in the fight to live with or through cancer. One of my overriding memories of my family experience was a lovely lady sitting with my twelve year old son playing chess providing a tiny sense of normality in a frightening world. The safe calm cosy atmosphere with ‘Mother Hens’ fussing over them whether with a shoulder to cry on or rant at or to just sit with and not have to speak provided the right support for my two older sons. Mean while my husband cried buckets with these wonderful people whilst they provided the coffee and mountains of information and help ranging from finance, how to help our sons, support within the NHS, what to expect, dealing with his feelings and on occasions a place to laugh without feeling guilt all within a safe place with no machines constantly beeping."

13 years on and my Mum is still going strong and volunteering at one of the Big C charity shops!

Despite this story, I shamefully admit that I've never done anything for a cancer charity before and I realise now that is partly through guilt. I am so grateful for the happy ending to this cancer story but also feel guilty for speaking about it as I know for many, this isn't the case. But I hope that by taking on the challenge of my first ever marathon and raising £500 for the Big C, I can do my part to help this charity support other families like it supported mine.

About Big C

Big C, established in Norfolk in 1980, is a local Norfolk cancer charity. Through support, research, equipment and education, they make a difference to the lives of local people affected by cancer. Big C currently has four Cancer Support & Information centres across Norfolk with a new Norwich Centre being built to open in summer 2023. The charity also provides support by telephone and online. The Centres are used by thousands of people affected by cancer with trained staff providing emotional help, support and complementary therapies.