Thank you in advance for supporting my fundraising. 

MacMillan were on hand to offer care and continued recovery support for my mum after her cancer diagnosis in February 2017 when a malignant tumor developed on her tongue. The following few months consisted of surgery to remove and then replace the nerves and skin from her tongue and further surgery to remove the lymph nodes on both sides. There were then weeks of grueling radiotherapy leaving mum unable to eat and talk. Thankfully mum’s now able to say she’s cancer free and has been talking our ears off ever since. 

Unfortunately this isn’t the only brush with cancer in the family, with 2023 marking the 10 year anniversary of losing my lovely auntie Sally at 47. Earlier this year my uncle Russell was also diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at just 53- a big shock for the whole family and as he put it ‘pretty sub-optimal’. 

Every year I watch the London marathon armed with jelly babies and Vaseline and have a little cry at how amazing everyone is, so I feel it’s time I donned the green MacMillan t-shirt. MacMillan provide much needed services for people living with cancer at every stage of their cancer experience, from emotional, to physical, to financial support and they are 98% funded by voluntary donations. 

This will be a huge challenge for me and my inherited crumbly knees so anything you can give would be greatly received and hugely motivating to get me through a winter of training and over the finish line. 

Thank you again for your support,
Gracie x

While I have you, in 2020 my school friend Jess died after several misdiagnoses and a lack of awareness and priority given to cancer testing within adults aged 25-49. I was lucky to spend time singing with Jess in the school choir, travelling to various countries on music tour. Jess was warm and sunny and for me will always be synonymous with 'The Song of Purple Summer' from the musical Spring Awakening and manatees (she once signed me up to a manatee fan club!). A trust has been set up in her name as well as a campaign to improve the awareness and diagnosis of cancer in young adults, I'd love if you could take a moment to read about Jess and the campaign and to sign the petition. Thank you xx