My best and oldest friend Ray, is my eldest daughters' god father and I am his daughter Megans' god father. Ray and I go back a long way!!
Megan was diagnosed with 'Ewing's Sarcoma', a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer, on the 1st April last year, aged 11 years old!
She would have to undergo 7 chemotherapy treatments, typically she would lose all her hair, and after she completed all the chemotherapy there would be a chance she may lose her leg. Sadly that is exactly what happened and in September 2011, having just turned 12 years old, she was given an above knee amputation of her right leg.
It has been an amazingly tough time for her Dad Ray, Mum Diane and big brother Jack, but they are all 'salt of the earth' people and have dealt with this whole horror story with amazing bravery, but none so bravely as Megan. Ray tells me stories of how uncomplaining and stoical Megan has been ,and accepting of her plight. There have obviously been dark days, as you would expect. However last week Megan was told by her Consultant to "get back to school", which she has done and recently there have been some happier moments along the way.
Due to the number of wonderful charities to help kids like her, Megan has had a few real highlights of late. She has been to watch Liverpool play at Anfield, in a hospitality box... a dream come true for Ray who went too!!!! She has met Simon Cowell at 'Britain's Got Talent', and I believe is soon to go to London for a days shopping, all provided by "Make a wish" type charities .Not to mention meeting Princess Kate on a recent visit to Alder Hey hospital !!
As you can imagine, at 12 years old, it is an enormous stigma to return to school wearing a wig, and to be visibly on a prosthetic leg. Ray and Diane are just relieved to have their daughter alive and well. Megan now just wants to get on with her life! When she leaves school she has no doubt what she wants to be ....a children's cancer nurse!!
As a friend of Ray, you do what you can by phone or on a brief visit, but it does leave you wishing you could do more. Well I am!! Therefore I am running 1 marathon over 2 weekends (fortunately I missed the application date for the London Marathon). The Bath 1/2 is on the 11th March and the Liverpool 1/2 on the 18th March.
Ray has told me that the small charitable organisation of 'CHICS' in Merseyside have been wonderful in helping them get through this nightmare, and have given great support to them all. Cancer research is also a must on my list of the registered charities.
Megan when she turns 18, would like a custom made prosthetic leg. These have to be bought independently, so there is a collection bucket in my clinic reception, which will raise funds for this prosthesis which Megan has termed 'Megs Leg'! Ray and Diane are in the process of setting up a charity to help raise money for her bespoke leg but its not registered yet so cant be included on the Just giving page however if you wish to forward me a cheque made payable to Megz Legz to help Megan secure as normal a leg as possible.
I have set up a 'just giving' page for donations to the registered charities should you wish to donate.
Megan, weather allowing, will be there to cheer me over the finish line in Liverpool on the 18th March, but really it is me who will be cheering her over her finish line!
Thank you for your time.
