🙋‍♂️Hello! Ryan here

Thanks for supporting the mission!

I've spent the last few years going from freefall to stability to uncertainty and all the way back again.

I've been on a journey of self-discovery, I've been familiarising myself with the heaviness of grief and trying to build a life I look forward to waking up to.

So, I'm running my first ever ultramarathon in Wales to raise LOADS of money and challenge myself to the limit.

The rolling hills, the cool fresh air, the sounds of squelching mud and a groaning of pain - lovely.

It's a chance to say: "I did that!?!" But most of all it's a chance to make a tiny amount of change. So if my stories resonate - donate!

I'll be tracking the journey from now until October and The Loop! (https://www.limitlesstrails.co.uk/the-loop-ultra) - an inaugural race set in the stunning Cambrian Mountains.

Thank you for reading and ESPECAILLY for donating.

~ Ryan x

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Great Ormond Street Hospital - I'm 1 in 2,500

I was born in Chelmsford in St John's Hospital 9 weeks early with a CDH (congenital diaphragmatic hernia), I was treated at Great Ormond Street by Dr Edward Kiely and his team.

We don't know exactly what causes CDH's. They're very rare, occurring in 1 in ~2,500 babies, and are more common in boys than girls. I was lucky to have received neonatal and metabolic care in the weeks and years after my surgery.

I often think about my eclectic eating behaviours, my small size and what it is like for the ~78,000 children and young people a year that GOSH staff look after.

Helen Rollason Cancer Charity - 1 in 7 UK females will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime

An Essex legend, Helen Rollason was a remarkable woman. She became one of the UK’s most popular sports TV presenters before her fight against cancer inspired millions of people.

Her services to broadcasting and work for charity – which led to the formation of Helen Rollason Cancer Charity – was recognised with an MBE before she died aged just 43.

Now, the charity provides a safe space. A place where you can have enjoyable, relaxing and calming treatments in the knowledge that you are not alone.

We benefited greatly from Helen Rollason's support as a family when my Mum, Jane, was unwell with breast and what later metastasised into lung and brain cancer from 2017 to 2022.

Their support centres, complementary therapies and community support groups provided essential support for my Mum, Dad, Brother and myself throughout a challenging and traumatic period.

Triple negative breast cancer affects about 10% of cases, as with my Mum, and is treatable via a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. How exhausting and fatiguing these treatments can be only further necessitates the essential support Helen Rollason provide. It's safe, calming, regulating, and relaxing - a priceless reprieve.

Campaign Against Living Miserably - 25% of us will ideate in our lives, we lose 18 each day.

From dealing with my health issues as a child, to more recently coping with my Mum's diagnosis and supporting her care, to navigating the pandemic and overcoming social isolation and mental health challenges - I've often said that I've struggled.

I've been unsettled and hopeless, sometimes numb to my experiences (much of which I now attribute to late-diagnosed ADHD). I've also spent a lot of time wondering what life would be like without me in it. This is known as suicidal ideation.

We need more open conversations and support for everyone who is struggling. You are not alone. Stay.

🙏Thank you!

Thank you for supporting me on this mission. I am proud that you're here.

Feel free to drop me a line anytime ryan@rymcgee.com or 07854003789

See you on the hills!

~Ryan x

Housekeeping

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.