It's taken a while to get around to properly updating this. It's been and continues to be an extremely difficult time for our family and not one easily put into the words. 

Our dad was beyond fantastic as a human being, a teacher, a father, a bapu. He was a beacon of what we his children longed to be and model our lives around his principles of kindness, family and strength. 

In September 2022 dad had some neck pains, nothing out of the ordinary, a stiff neck maybe. 

By October the pain had got worse and he sought help and was told it was probably a trapped nerve. 

November 2023 dad was showing some neuro difficulty in recall and speech and was rushed to hospital where we learned that he had cancer. This was in his thyroid, brain, lungs and spine. Worse than that this was anaplastic cancer, extremely rare and extremely aggressive. 

Dad fought so hard for 5 months longer than the doctors knowing looks and gentle doubting words had forecast. And we are so grateful he fought to see one last Christmas with us and to see his granddaughter, Evie and give her a cuddle. 

Right now we are learning to stand again, learning how to live without the foundation of our family. Keeping in our hearts all the joy and love that he brought to us every single day 

We love you dad and always will.

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12th April 2023 our wonderful dad, Derek, lost his short battle with cancer. 

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Cancer has always been around in our world, colleagues, friends and relatives that have amazingly battled and in most cases kicked its arse. 

In our wonderful blended family of Coghills we have 3 parents that  continue to fight against cancer and us as a family still find ourselves adjusting to a new type of life. We want to thank the support services that Macmillan and Macmillan nurses especially provide patients and families so what better way than fundraising.

Your support means the world to us and we're sure many others in our position so thank you for sparing whatever you can.

We'll update here as best we can with how we're getting on and in preparation for the big hike and of course send lots of pics and videos of our suffering through the hike to our socials.

Blake will also be lone running the Great North Run (13 miles)  If you know or have met me you'll know I'm a larger chap so this will certainly be a challenge. 

Edit: after you all being so amazing we have stretched our target from £1000 to £2000. Your donation not only helps us to focus on the walk ahead, a welcome distraction at times, but also it really does make a difference in the lives of those who Macmillan touches. Thank you, you are awesome