Hi Everyone,

 

Thanks for coming! As you now know I’m running the Paris Marathon on April 15th next year. Running a marathon is something I have always wanted to do but as a person who struggles to climb a flight of stairs and talk at the same time its something I’ve shied away from! So being Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month – Novemeber I’m sharing with you why I’ve signed up for the marathon and why you should donate.

 

Tragically in April this year my Grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, 5 months later in September he died. At the age of 69 he was under 3 months away from his 70 birthday. Sixty nine years old is no age at all nowadays. His death has been my most heartbreaking experience. For those of you who didn’t know him my Grandfather was a quiet and kind soul who never demanded attention and was happy with life. Living with his wife, who he doted on, having his son – Steven and his wife Caroline nearby, and his daughter Karen and her husband Bernard and myself visiting regularly he was well loved.

 

Watching over him in the hospital for his last 2 weeks, spending my days and nights there and being with him when he passed away did nothing to prepare me for his inevitable passing and the heartbreak that ensued. I miss so many things about him, him singing whilst washing the dishes after a Sunday lunch, having a song for every mood or occasion, his one line jokes and his famous deadpan sense of humour. But most of all I miss the big bear hugs and smile I got when I arrived in from the airport.

 

So little is known about this cancer and the survival rates are appalling. Just 3% of cases will survive 5 years after their diagnosis. This figure has not changed in 40 years. Compare this with breast cancer where 40 years ago the survival rate was 46% and now is 80%, pancreatic cancer is still just 3%, in 4 decades we have no improvement.

 

Having spoken to the founder of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund she attributes the poor survival rates to the lack of awareness of the cancer and subsequent lack of funding to do research to find out more about pancreatic cancer. PCRF rely TOTALLY on public donations, this is why I have chosen to donate ALL the money I raise to their research. PCRF support up 5 research projects a year costing up to £150,000 each – they need this money to improve survival rates. So please give generously to help me raise £10 for every year of his life and spread the word. I want to help improve these survival rates because everyday my heart breaks a little more knowing I’ll never see my Grandad again.

For those of you who want to know more about Pancreatic cancer visit the link below or visit pcrf.org.uk and help PCRF continue with their wonderful work.

http://np.netpublicator.com/ne tpublication/n99029832