This year will mark 5 years since we lost Sarah, my beloved wife, to Sarcoma; a rare and often aggressive type of cancer. 

I am lacing up my running shoes again to run three marathons in 4 weeks (Brighton, Manchester and London). I'll once again be wearing the Golf Ball costume* in memory of Sarah, and to raise money and awareness for Sarcoma UK.

Sarah was my best friend, and seeing her go through harsh treatments, major life changing surgery and ultimately the decline in her health was heart-breaking for us all to witness.

Sarah was unassuming, but fiercely determined, and dealt with what was a shock diagnosis with courage and dignity that continues to inspire those of us left behind.

Sarah deserved a better outcome, but sadly successful treatment options are sorely lacking. Survival rates have been very gradually increasing over the last two decades, but still just over half of those diagnosed with sarcoma will survive 5 years. This is not good enough.

The Never Forgotten Ball

As a supporter of Sarcoma UK, and since seeking support from a few bereavement charities, I have come to know too many others who been affected by this disease. This year, to tie in with Sarcoma UK's  "Never Forgotten Memorial Wall" (https://neverforgotten.sarcoma.org.uk/) I am encouraging anyone who has lost a loved one to sarcoma to make a suggested donation of £10 for their loved one's name to appear on the ball. I've setup a new Instagram account (@neverforgottenball) and will update with further details and photos of the costume. 

**DEADLINE FOR PHOTOS IS 10th APRIL and so far I have 17 photos**

Thank you so much for reading this and for making a donation if you are able - I appreciate times are hard for many at the moment, so it really does mean a lot.

*The Golf ball costume is symbolic of a Sarcoma UK campaign called "On the ball" which aimed to increase awareness of sarcomas amongst GPs to promote earlier diagnosis. The campaign was based on a concept presented by Professor Robert Grimer that anyone with a lump the size of a golf ball or larger should be referred to a sarcoma specialist. 

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Sarcoma UK are a national charity that funds vital research, offers support for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer and campaigns for better treatments. Sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in the bone and soft tissue. It is difficult to diagnose and one of the hardest to treat. By supporting me, we can help change this. Your donation will help researchers find answers, keep our Support Line open, and raise awareness to improve treatment and standards of care. Thank you for your support.