In December 2014 I lost my big brother, I never knew what I had until I lost Nick. Since then through tough and happy times I have vowed to keep him ever present in my thoughts and actions.

Nick died after a very brief fight with cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the bile duct). Similar to other cancers that begin within organs, detection of the cancer was made too late to even utilise chemotherapy. Cancer care is constantly advancing, however, currently early detection and surgery still provides the highest chance of eradicating a cancer.

AMMF (www.ammf.org.uk) is the UK’s only cholangiocarcinoma charity, dedicated to tackling this devastating cancer on all fronts: providing information and support, campaigning to raise awareness, and encouraging and supporting research.

Over recent years an enormous and extremely worrying worldwide
increase in cholangiocarcinoma’s incidence has been noted. Latest figures show there were 2,161 deaths caused by cholangiocarcinoma in 2013 in England alone (NCIN/Cancer52 report).  The incidence appears to be increasing across all age groups, including younger people, and the cause of this ongoing increase is unknown. Much more research is desperately needed.

AMMF is dedicated to bringing about improvement for the cholangiocarcinoma patient, working closely throughout the UK with patients, families, carers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, politicians and policy makers.

From December 2016, I will be embarking on a year of running events, one a month. Nick and I in our different ways never backed down from a challenge and I felt this was the right time to remember him in a special way. In doing this I hope to increase awareness of cholangiocarcinoma and AMMF whilst also fundraising for the charity’s vital ongoing work. 

The schedule is:

December 10th Grizedale Forest Night Runner 10k

January 8th Wirral Way Half Marathon

February 4th Jurassic Run South Devon Coastal Marathon

March 5th Anglesey Half Marathon

April 9th Paris Marathon

May 28th Liverpool Rock'n'Roll Marathon

June 18th Port Sunlight 10k

July 15th-16th Race to the Stones 100k Ultra Marathon

August 5th Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10k Summer Race

September 9th North West Tough Mudder

October 8th Kirkby Milers Knowsley Safari Park 10 Miler

November 12th Athens Marathon

I will be keeping everyone up to date with my training progress through this group and sharing stories. Running buddies are always welcome both in training and for events. Also please set me fundraising challenges, nothing is more motivating than achieving a certain time or running in fancy dress in order to raise more money for a very good cause!

Thank you for taking the time to read through this and any money you can give will be thoroughly appreciated by myself, the Francis family, friends and AMMF.