In 2015 we sadly lost my Dad to Cancer after a 3 month battle. We first knew about this when he was was sent to the Medway Hospital with what we thought was a problem with his spine causing him to have drop foot. After having CT / MRI scans and many visits from consultants and doctors it became apparent that there was a much more serious problem, he actually had cancer in his spine which was causing pressure on his nerves, which eventually paralysed the lower part of his body. They then told us there was other parts of his body affected by cancer, he had it in his lungs, liver and head. On Easter Monday he was sent to the Maidstone Hospital for radio therapy to try and ease the pressure on his spine, but this was unsuccessful. Later on that week we had a team of doctors that came to see us and said that there was nothing more they could do as the cancer was so aggressive. They tried to tell us his life expectancy but my dad didn't want to know, all that he wanted to do was to come home and spend the time he had left with us. 

After this we had help from Macmillan Cancer Support (who I ran the London Marathon for in 2018) to help us with finances and medical support. Also we had the help from The Wisdom Hospice (Supported by Hospice UK) to give us all the necessary equipment i.e. wheel chair, ramps and support to enable his stay at home to be as comfortable as it could be.

After a 3 month battle my Dad passed away peacefully with his family by his side on the 6th July 2015, at the age of 52, this was a very sad time for us as you can imagine. 

From that moment I said I wanted to run the London Marathon for both charities to give them something back for all the help and support that they had given us in our time of need. Last year I completed it for Macmillan Cancer Support in the time of 05:03:28 and this year I am undertaking the challenge again for the second charity Hospice UK.

Unfortunately on the 15th January 2019 my Grandad (Denis Judd) passed away, since my Dad passed in 2015 my Grandad has been there for me at the lowest point in my life and he always picked me up when I was down, he was my absolute rock. So this Marathon will be in memory of him also, making it even more special.

Thank you for spending the time to read our story.

Much Love

Daniel

xxx

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