Alex Lister was 7 years old when he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.

 

It was a very rare and very aggressive cancer and even if surgery was successful Alex was only given a 20% chance of survival. The tumour (which was about the size of a small pear, measuring approx 12cm x 6cm) was completely removed in November 2010. Alex then underwent courses of both chemo & radio therapy, but 6 months later Alex’s parents received the devastating news that their son’s cancer had returned and was now inoperable.

 

Since then Alex has had to come to terms with his illness and the disabilities caused as a result. The tumour has left him with speech, hearing and learning difficulties as well as a loss of mobility down his right hand side. Although he remains palliative, Alex has received excellent care from Addenbrooke’s Hospital and against the odds his tumour appears to have stabilised – at least for the time being.

 

Alex’s family, Mum (Annalise), Dad (Mark) & younger brother (Daniel) try to lead as normal a life as is possible, as well as trying to make their time with Alex as special as possible.

 

Since Alex’s diagnosis, the family has been helped by “The Liam Fairhurst Foundation”, a charity which helps disadvantaged young people in the United Kingdom, especially those affected by Cancer and Disabilities, including their siblings: http://www.liamfairhurstfoundation.com/about_us.php The charity also helps projects for example the funding of a nurse in the final few hours of a young person life.

 

Liam Fairhurst was diagnosed with soft tissue cancer in his legs and lungs in 2005 when he was 10 years old, but despite numerous courses of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, Liam sadly died 4 years later. Following the death of Liam’s friend Jack Wilkinson in 2006, Liam began fundraising for the children cancer charity CLIC Sargent and by the time of his death, his fund raising total stood at £340,000.

 

I have had the privilege of knowing Mark & Annalise Lister for the past 10 years and their strength and integrity throughout everything that they have had to see their son Alex endure, as well as the emotional journey that I have seen them go through and continue to be on, has for me been a truly humbling experience.

 

It is the strength of people like Mark, Annalise, Alex & Daniel Lister that inspires me. On the 13 April 2014, I will be raising money for the Liam Fairhurst Foundation by taking part in the London Marathon. If you are able, I wish to ask you to help me raise as much money as possible for this deserving cause, by sponsoring me, please be as generous as you can.

 

All the very best,

 

Rob Monk

N.B. My London Marathon place has been provided by Bedford Hospital - Primrose Unit, Oncology Unit http://www.bedfordhospital.nhs.uk/primrose-unit and a percentage of the money raised, will be given to them.