My why:

In 2015, my Dad, Simon, was diagnosed with lung cancer and died just four months later. Dad was a wonderful man with a wonderful sense of humour, and he loved the great outdoors. This May, I will set off from London on my second endurance challenge in his memory. I'll cycle over 1200km through five countries to reach Lahti, in Finland, and will then take on Ultra X Finland: a 2-day, 110km ultra marathon.

Even in my 20s, it felt far too soon to be losing my Dad - it was overwhelming and the future felt daunting. Yet, imagine losing a parent at an age even younger than I was, or losing a partner when you’ve got a family and young children together.

It’s unimaginable.

But this is where the Ruth Strauss Foundation comes in. Ruth Strauss had never smoked but in 2018, she was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer. She was a brilliant woman: strong, kind, fun, young, fit and healthy, husband to Sir Andrew Strauss and mum to their two young boys. When she was diagnosed, her immediate concern was for her sons. However, she quickly faced the reality of very sparse support for families facing an incurable cancer diagnosis.

Ruth decided to do something about it and the first vision of the Ruth Strauss Foundation was born.

My Dad had previously smoked, but anyone with lungs can get lung cancer. Non-smoking related lung cancers are more common in women and in younger people; I've seen the devastating impact this can have on families throughout my time as a cancer doctor but I've also seen the incredible work of the Ruth Strauss Foundation, and so for my 2024 challenge, I shall be raising money for the RSF, all in memory of Dad (and for sure, he'd think I'm absolutely bonkers...).

From the Ruth Strauss Foundation (RSF):

Our mission is to help provide emotional support for families with dependent children to prepare for the death of a parent from cancer; and to raise awareness and funds for research into rare lung cancers.

Every pound you donate will make a difference in funding visionary research into rare lung cancers and vital wellbeing support to meet the emotional & psychological needs of families where a parent is living with an incurable cancer.

Fighting the lung cancers you don’t hear about. Supporting the suffering you don’t see.

Follow my training @londontolahti on instagram or @harrietmcgrath on Twitter

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