Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. 

On the 18th of December, I'll be (hopefully) finishing my PhD. A journey I started with my friend and PhD supervisor, Ben Collen. Ben passed away in May 2018, after long months of treatment for a rare form of bone cancer. Therefore, I am raising funds for the Bone Cancer Research Trust, who are fighting these under-researched and under-funded cancer types, providing research but also support to friends and families affected. 

I am not too good with words, and there is nothing that I can say about Ben's character that hasn't been said much better by someone else. But even though he can no longer advise me, every time I am lost and don't know what to do, it helps me to think: What would Ben do?

He liked to make others laugh and to think outside the box, so I'm getting a tattoo of the spider that carries his name (Loureedia colleni) looking over my right shoulder on the 23rd of December, just after I submit my thesis (fingers cross). Not sure Ben would approve of this, at all, but I think it would at least have made him smile, maybe cringe, likely both.

Your donations will contribute towards the incredible amount already raised by Ben's wife, Alanna Collen, and by our friends, Ant and Thali, Beating Bone Cancer for Ben.

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.

Thank you for reading all the way here and thank you in advance for helping me honour Ben's memory.

Sergio