My life has been negatively impacted by Cancer in several significant ways. My wife of 28 years, mother to our five children, and partner in our family business contracted Triple Negative Breast Cancer in July 2016. Debbie underwent treatment and all looked fine, then she took a turn for the worse in May 2017 and died within a week of being hospitalised. My children lost their mum, her parents lost their only daughter, her brothers lost a sister, and not only did I lose the love of my life, but I also lost my business partner and career. We were all devastated.

However, we picked ourselves up. I changed my career and became an academic, primarily to have a stable income and spend more time with my family. We worked as a team and gradually created a new normality. I did meet another special lady, but shortly afterward, she contracted the same form of Breast Cancer that killed my wife. This time the outcome was excellent, she survived, has recovered, and is doing well. Unfortunately, the relationship did not, but that is trivial compared to the fantastic outcome that the advances in treatment were able to deliver. We are still friends. At the same time, my sister, mother, and mother-in-law have all been diagnosed with cancer but through the miracle of medical science, have all been successfully treated.

I have always been reasonably fit and a few years ago I started to be a regular at a gym. I decided to start running in December 2022. I used the Couch to 5K app and within three weeks ran a 5K Park Run in sub 30 minutes.

As you will see from the updates and photos below I have since run 10K races in Regents Park and Southampton. In September I ran my first half marathon, the ‘Winchester Hilly’ and I have subsequently run two more in Victoria Park as well as the Great South Run (10 miles). All of this is leading up to running one marathon.

I have chosen to run for ‘Against Breast Cancer’ as they are doing the research needed to find prevention and/or cure for this horrid disease. I would be very grateful for any sponsorship you are able to give.

Thank you,
Phill