Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

If I even mentioned the word 'marathon' to Gina, she would always say "never again!" ... But here we are again, about to embark on another 4 months of training in the dark and the cold! This time, however, it is different. We are running the London Marathon to raise money and awareness for Ovarian Cancer Action, an amazing charity - about which I will tell you later on... :) 

We get up every Saturday morning and run with an great group of friends through the lovely countryside of Oxfordshire in every type of weather. Cath is one of our running buddies and is the most positive person I know who sees the joy in everything and lives every moment. 

Cath tested positive for BRCA2 just two months after the birth of her third child. Being BRCA positive means there is an 80 per cent chance of being diagnosed with breast and ovarian Cancer in your 40s or 50s, unless you undergo preventative surgery.

Cath chose to have a double mastectomy and reconstruction in December 2013; she also had her ovaries removed in November 2015. Despite these seriously intrusive, life changing medical interventions, Cath has remained positive throughout, running with the group, whenever she can. Cath's chances of being diagnosed with breast or ovarian Cancer are now less than 1%.  She has been supported throughout this process by family, friends, medical staff and the incredible charities which support women and men, like Cath, through these times. 

Ovarian Cancer Action aims to fund research into ovarian cancer, with the hope that women who are diagnosed are treated effectively, so that the number of women who die from the disease reduces dramatically. They also aim to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and develop an understanding of the risk factors and symptoms associated with the disease.

I know that there will be "never again" times over the next few months, but those 'Mile 19' conversations will keep us going and the thought that we are raising money to support OCA.

Thank you so much for reading this page and for your support.

Anna and Gina

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