Alex Morley
Alex's Hadrian's Centurion Run
Fundraising for Cancer Research UK
Story
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Over the 24 hours of September 12th 2020, I will be running the 84 miles of the Hadrian's Wall Path from Bowness-on-Solway to Segedunum in Wallsend, Newcastle.
However, this doesn't seem quite enough on its own, so I will be running from the coast, just west of Bowness-on-Solway to the start line and will be running along the banks of the River Tyne to the east coast in my home village of Tynemouth at the end.
This should make it a nice, round 100 miles, to be completed in around 30 hours or less.
I am doing this because in October 2018 my big brother was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. He's young(ish), fit and otherwise very healthy, with a lovely wife and two young kids.
At 43, this seemed way too young to be told that you have a disease which the doctors don't believe they can cure.
And why should anyone be told that? Why should we be OK with the thought that there is a whole family of diseases which we can't always get rid of?
How can it be OK that a man who lives well, eats well, exercises and takes care of himself can be told that his life plans will be cut short?
And why should a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old have to hear that their dad has an illness which doctors don't think they can get rid of and that it might eventually take him away from them?
Although he and his family have been through a huge amount in the time since his diagnosis, with various treatments alongside the overall process of coming to terms with his diagnosis, so far those treatments are actually doing well and he's fighting the cancer cells better than anyone expected.
But the fight is still on, the cancer isn't letting go and I want to help keep my big brother motivated as his treatment continues.
I also want to help prevent other families from having to go through the same torment.
These reasons are why I'm running to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Their ongoing work to seek cures for all forms of cancer is so incredibly important, and only by finding a way of getting rid of this disease once and for all will be able to stop others from hearing that terrible news that they have a cancer which cannot be cured.
If a little bit of my suffering and perseverance can help fund scientists in their research and stop just one person from having to go through the suffering - both mental and physical - and having to show the perseverance that my big brother is currently showing, then that's the very least I feel I can do.
If you feel you can donate a little to support this excellent and worthy cause, I would really appreciate it and it will help greatly to motivate me through the long, hard miles of the run.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.