On 4 May 2022 our world flipped upside down. We received the news that Jon, my partner, had been diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer. The plan of action was 3 rounds of chemo in the hope of reducing the tumour size before surgery to remove it followed by 4 further rounds of chemo.

In August 2022 we were told the chemo had failed and the tumour had grown into his stomach. Emergency surgery took place in September 2022 where 2/3 of his bowel and stomach along with part of his small intestine were removed. We were told recovery would be 9 - 12 months.

Everything seemed to be going well. Surgeon and oncology were happy with the outcome of the surgery so chemo commenced again.

Unfortunately at the end of January, following a scan, we received the devastating news that there was evidence the cancer was regrowing on his bowel but had also spread to his liver. They were no longer looking to cure him but could only try to prolong his life.

We are now planning to marry as soon as possible. 2023 will be the year I become Mrs Pearce but likely to also be the year I become a widow. All our plans for the future are now unlikely to happen and I’ll be losing my partner, best friend and my biggest supporter.

This is my last year of running the Great North Run so is the perfect opportunity to raise as much money as possible to try to ensure other families don’t have to go through the same. I can only hope Jon will still be here to see me run it and make him as proud of me as I am of him.

Please be generous to help fight this cruel and awful disease.