Emily Zielinski
I've almost run a Marathon!
Fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support
Story
This is all about my cousin “Dan the Man”……
On Christmas Eve last year we had the shocking news that our gorgeous, 36 year old, energetic, talented sportsman Dan was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer and was already at Stage IV. He has been through an awful year of intensive chemo, blood transfusions and radiotherapy treatment which he has battled with great courage and humour along the way. His new “hangout” became the Haematology and Oncology unit at Northampton General Hospital where he was looked after with incredible expertise, compassion and friendliness.
Dan’s last 12 months have not been the greatest and he has been my inspiration this year to get off the sofa, reach for my dusty trainers and run "a Marathon" for Dan, just not all in one go!
My first run was in April - a 10K double loop racing around Silverstone Race track, the second“The Race for Life” 10K in Milton Keynes, the third a 5K run for Cancer research around Willen Lake in MK, the fourth a 10K double loop around Willen Lake again, for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Blood cancer (ouch those sneaky hills!) culminating with the last 10K “Mo-vember Run” around Campbell Park, MK on Sunday 13 November - of course I’ll wear a moustache! This finale run brings me to a total of 45km or 27.9 miles….so I guess you could say “I’ve almost run a Marathon”!! Phew!
Dan is due back at NGH on 9 December for a final scan almost a year on from that awful day in 2010 - we all hope and pray he will be given the all clear. Worst case scenario will be having to find a suitable bone marrow donor.
It is because of the wonderful treatment and care Dan has received at the Haematology and Oncology unit at NGH that I therefore really want to raise funds via the Macmillan Cancer appeal for the renovation of this great unit which has seen Dan through times of despair and gloom to where he is today….I can tell he’s on the mend because his banter is definitely improving and he’s almost back to being “Dan the Man”!
If you can dig deep and donate to this great unit however small….every little helps! Huge thanks and much appreciation
Emily x
To find out more about the new unit at NGH click on the below link: