I hate running....... Truly despise it (I know not the best thing to say when doing a marathon) my sister used to run all the time she took part in Edinburgh, Paris, Halstead marathons, many half marathons 10ks etc and I was so proud and amazed by her I remember saying there is no way you would get me to do a marathon........ Then at  the beginning of 2017 her health started to deteriorate..... She got diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 39, as we lived 3 hours apart every time we visited one another I gradually saw how bad it was effecting her health to the point where some days she couldn't even get out of bed or her husband had to dress her and it was heart breaking to see but she always had a massive smile and fought the pain to try and enjoy as much as she could, after being run down quite a lot she developed a bad ulcer on her tongue which would  not heal to the point where she couldn't eat solid food as it was too painful full so a friend who was a dentist referred her to get a biopsy as it didn't seem right......... Towards the end of September we got the dreaded news that the ulcer was actually cancerous and that a major operation was needed to remove a large section of her tongue along with her lymph nodes which is the routine procedure for treating that area. Me and my daughter, (her niece who she adored beyond words) spent the weekend with her before her operation and She went in on 2nd of October, I messaged her daily and she seemed to be doing well with a few ups and downs then on the 11th October she messaged me in the morning to say she should be home at the weekend and when could I visit to which I said I would be straight down ...... That was the last message I received from my sister. Later that day when I was feeling so happy for her my mum gave me the news that due to a ruptured artery she couldn't be saved and my sweet sister was taken from us. 

I find this very hard to talk about and when growing up Jo was the best and looked after me more like a mum as well as the most caring sister, a  massive part of my life has been taken away from me and although we lived a fair distance apart not a day went by that we didn't talk xx I miss that so much so to make my big sister proud I am running this marathon in her memory and as it is a marathon she always wanted to do I will be taking her ashes in a locket to get her over the finish line and claim her that last medal.


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