02. The why…
Where to start… what could drive such a want or even a need to do something that pushes your boundaries, tests your limits in both a physical and mental way - it’s got to be LOVE.
As I child growing up, we were a healthy family, no illness at all really and definitely nothing serious. I had elderly relatives that seemed to casually live well into their 90’s.
Fast forward many years and boom your world shatters when the word cancer penetrates your family bubble. My dad passed away 8 years ago now and (sadly I am sure many of you understand) there isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think of him, laugh about old memories, sing my heart out to favourite family songs, cry with deep sadness and most of all, wish we could just chat about stuff… my children, little successes, annoying challenges, DIY…
More recently, it feels like so many friends have been diagnosed with a variety of different types of cancer. Some are fighting through treatment, some have completed treatment and some have sadly passed away. It was a real shock when in the space of 18 months 4 friends - all in their 30’s with young children were diagnosed with cancer. What on earth was going on? When someone is at a similar life stage to you and you know them well, you can quite easily imagine yourself in their shoes - god it can feel real. But imagining and feeling is all it is. In fact, despite being supportive and curious as a friend, I will never ever really know what it has been like or continues to be like for them.
At the end of those 18 months, in January earlier this year, my mum came to stay with us. Time with the grand children and to hang out for a few days. One evening, once the kids were asleep and we were enjoying a cuppa and pudding in front of the TV, she said “I’ve been to the doctors and have been diagnosed breast cancer”. I took a deep breath and said “OK, tell me all about it”.
My mum had found a small lump and been pro-active about getting it checked out immediately. She was supported in a timely manner through appointments and scans. This meant it had been caught early - stage 1, surgery was an option and it was a good prognosis as far as things go. Still scary, thought consuming and worrying but it was time to remain calm, listen to what my mum wanted and needed and to support her in any way I could.
I went into action mode, having worked in Breast Cancer in the past and still working in the pharmaceutical industry, I reached out to all my contacts to gather information and advice. I’ve attended most appointments with her and supported her through surgery - along with help from wider family and my mum’s incredible friends. After a successful surgery and lots of deliberation, my mum decided to have chemo… we start that chapter at the beginning of May, just next week.
I feel so lucky that like my mum, I have an incredible network of friends. Individuals and groups I’ve connected deeply with over the year and without I wouldn’t be who I am today. I find it shocking and saddening at how many friends are now impacted by Alzehimer’s & Dementia. So many friends have lost parents or are navigating how to support parents with progressing disease.
So, this is my why… my wonderful family and my incredible friends. I’ve no idea how many miles in total I will swim, cycle and run over the next year as training and as part of the challenge itself but you are worth every stitch in my gut, every bead of sweat that trickles down my face, every ache, pain, bump, bruise, every early morning or late night training session… all of it and more - you are all worth it and I love you.
All money raised will go towards 3 charities;
St Oslwad’s Hospice, the outstanding team and facilities that cared for my dad and supported our family. We’re a charitable hospice rooted in the North East. We provide outstanding, specialist and expert care to adults and children with life-limiting conditions. We strive to provide quality time for everyone.
Cancer Research. Our strategy puts discovery research and excellence at the heart of what we'll do. We must understand the mechanisms of how cancer develops and progresses to unlock new ways to prevent, detect and treat it. It's built around 4 objectives – to discover, detect, prevent, and treat – so that progress in understanding the fundamental biology of cancer leads to new prevention measures, tests and treatments. To achieve this, we will spend £1.5bn over the next five years, investing in creative people and transformational research. We will support research to reduce cancer inequalities and improve outcomes for everyone.
Alziehmer’s Society. Our five-year Help and Hope Strategy will help us make the biggest impact to people’s lives. We’re the only dementia charity to tackle every aspect of dementia and give help for today and hope for the future. We give vital support to help people manage their condition today. We also give hope for the future by funding new treatments that could improve people’s quality of life, while also being the loudest voice campaigning for a better life for people living with dementia.
