Hi

I'm running the Plymouth Half Marathon for the first time, also the first time I have run a marathon so in itself a challenge. I'm supporting 2 well deserved and inspirational charities which I'm sure you will agree, I have stolen Marks explanation below which brought a tear to my eye. Also I found very inspirational and uplifting. I am hoping this will snow ball and I will do more for charity going forward and have a positive effective on the people I bump into. I'm a strong believer we are animals of habit, in todays day and age of uncertanity and an increase diseases and mental concerns that each of us has a responsibility  to create positive habits to make the world a better place for our children.

I'm running the Half Marathon for a third reason and that's my mate Mark Gregory(Savo). Mark is battling cancer at the moment his self and asked volunteers to run on his behalf for these worthy charities. Mark is a great friend to me and always been their through the good and the bad times, Savo was also my best man. I could go on but I don't want to take the focus away from Reuben's Charity. In a nut shell Savo has inspired me to do this which explains alot considering  his current battle. Thinking of others in a personnal difficult time.

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Having previously ran the Plymouth Half Marathon twice in the past three years, I was planning to make 2014 my third run to raise money for some worthy causes though this is no longer possible this year due to currently having my own personal battle with Cancer...

Having previously contracted pneumonia in August, I continued to visit the doctors to complain of chest pains.  After a number of X-Rays and scans, by pure chance, in November a CT scan picked up a lump in my neck.  After even more tests, on December 9 2013 I was diagnosed with having Medullary Thyroid Cancer.  In early January I went through major surgery to remove most of the Cancer as well as my thyroid and lymph nodes and am now waiting for the next stage of treatment.

Though this may come to a shock to some, those who have been aware of this know that I am determined to win my battle!  I am disappointed to not be able to run the half marathon this year for two reasons.  One being the feeling of achievement from crossing that line!  And the other being raising money for worthy causes.

After Christmas, I suggested to a few people that they run the Half Marathon on my behalf, and I've been overwhelmed by the number of people, mainly non runners, who have volunteered!  I have set up this page to be the central team page for 'Team Savo' (Savo is my nickname at home) and the team will be raising money for my chosen charities 'Reubens Retreat' & 'Macmillan Cancer Support'.

My employers, Vodafone, will match every pound raised, so if I raise £300, then Vodafone will take it to £600!  So the charity will benefit even more from your donation!

This page is set up to raise money for Reubens Retreat, you can google the charity to realise what Reubens brave parents, family and friends are all looking to achieve though below is a brief summary of Reubens Journey.  Please give generously to this great cause!

Every parents worse nightmare

Reuben was enjoying a family holiday in Devon; he was his usual happy self, having fun crabbing with his older brother Isaac. Reuben had been ill for 3 weeks on and off and despite several Doctors visits, nobody was unduly worried.  He would be sick in a morning and then he would recover within minutes and be fine for the rest of the day.  A tell-tale sign for things to come, but never in their wildest nightmares could they have known what was about to happen.

Reuben had a fall and became pale and distressed, his worried parents took him to A & E at Barnstaple Hospital and when Reuben failed to respond to some routine tests he was sent for a CT scan. The scan showed a large mass on his brain they suspected to be a tumour.

He was quickly transferred to the neurological unit at Frenchay Hospital by air ambulance where he underwent hours of surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain. Plans were quickly put in place for further surgery but sadly Reuben arrested during the night and his organs began to fail, despite fighting his way through another 5 hour operation some two days later he was too poorly to undergo any further surgery. He was transferred again to PICU at Bristol Children’s Hospital so they could help his organs to recover.  Reuben fell asleep in his Mummy’s arms on Tuesday 21st August 2012

The diagnosis

Reuben had suffered an ATRT which is Atypical terratoid rhabdoid tumour, it is a very rare and aggressive form of Cancerous tumour, only 4 to 5 children will be diagnosed with this tumour in the UK per year and there are very few symptoms.

A legacy in his name 

Despite the devastating grief that comes when a quarter of your family is gone, his brave and inspirational parents have set up a charity in his name, they plan to have a retreat in the north west countryside for children with life limiting and life threatening illnesses, with a support and bereavement counselling centre for Mummy’s, Daddy’s and Siblings who have lost their precious children. A place where families can take in the rolling hills and countryside, a place of comfort, peace and tranquillity, a place where memories can be built.