This is for Nick Parker - a remarkable man who challenged the nature of being very ill indeed.

Please celebrate Nick's amazing achievements by sponsoring my 50km run in support of some amazing people who were on Nick's side.

Backstory: On Xmas Eve 2016, Nick found out that the pain in his hips was not backache after all, but cancer that had metastasized from his prostate into his bones.

Months to live. For an active just-50 man, with a full-on life and vivacious family.

What happened next: Most of us recognise how waking up unwell is to be wrapped in a spirit-sapping blanket, where sleep and time can be relied on to make things right again. So it is an awesome person who can overcome that feeling on a daily basis and the promise of more to come, with little hope of escape. Let alone turn it back on itself as the motivation to seize the moment, jump higher and go further.

Over the next 5 years, Nick jumped high and went far by any standard. He transformed his life, buying time for his family, bringing hope, joy and meaning to many people. He bought a new perspective on being alive to those who knew him best. It's a complicated story, with a tragic end for someone who gave more and more - even though, he increasingly had less and less.

And at the end, the unbelievable team at Lawrence Home provided support, care, empathy and love in exactly the right way and the right quantities that meant Nick could be where he was loved and in peace. This team of astounding humans deserve anything you can spare.

And let's face it - supporting Cancer Research UK means that one day, no-one will have to be astounding in this way again. It's an investment for all our futures.

My aim is to raise £5000 (50/50 between Lawrence Home and Cancer Research), by running 50km in memory of my brother.

Because this is about digging deep and going far, I'm running the Chiltern Ridge Ultra on 8th May 2021, which is 50km. Fortunately not life threatening, but for someone used to local runs until 8 weeks ago, getting ready to run 50km is daunting enough.

I'm hoping folk will sponsor by the km ....... £1 has a nice ring to it, but anything would be great. Thank you.