It's almost 3 and a half years since Con died from a GBM - a stage 4 brain tumour that we had only found out about 16 months earlier whilst he was in Dubai on international duty.  It still baffles me to think how quickly life can change. Watching someone you love so deeply, who was strong, fit, healthy, determined and dependable, become so vulnerable in such a short space of time was truly awful. But my trauma is not a patch on what Con went through.

I know Con wanted me to be happy so I try not to mope, but the truth is, every day is difficult. Con didn't just die once - every day, I lose him over and over again. And as time goes on, his absence is felt even more, in everything the kids and I do. Time takes me further away from the beautiful life we once shared, to the point that sometimes I wonder if the 15 wonderful years we had together were actually real.

And then there are the key dates that creep up and knock the wind right out of me:  birthdays, our anniversary, Father's Day, Christmas and New Year. The brutally shit ones too: the day I received the phone call from Dubai, operation day, the day we were told it was stage 4, the day we were told his latest scan showed progression and the only option left was palliative care, and of course, his death. All while life seemingly goes on for every one else around me.

Brain tumours are killing too many, destroying lives and tearing families apart. In the last year alone, 7 people, whose journey I followed on social media have died - ages ranging from 11 to 40. It's heart-breaking and the figures are frightening. Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killers of children and adults under 40, yet less than 3% of the national cancer research spend is dedicated to brain tumours. When is this going to change? When is there going to be a breakthrough in treatment? Brain tumours should not have to be a death sentence. Everyone deserves a chance and a little glimmer of hope.

After the amazing support I received for last year's London Marathon, I thought I'd get my running shoes back on for the Great Scottish Run to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity.  Only(!!) a half-marathon this time, but your support would very much be appreciated by not only Daisy, Rory and myself, but by the whole brain tumour community. Because a cure can't wait.

Thank you.