Hi I am Harry Summers and I am running the Brighton Marathon for Macmillan Cancer. I have always wanted to do a marathon as I have grown up running and have always admired the determination and passion it takes to do one. One of these determined and passionate people is my dad. He got me into running at a young age. He would drag me out of bed at 8 am on a Saturday morning and get me to do Richmond Parkrun with him. The early wakeups became a habit and by the time I knew it I had done over 50 of them. As time went on I grew out of it. However, I always kept the promise that when we went to Cornwall each year I would go on a mad hunt for the most obscure parkrun with him.

My Dad has run 3 marathons and on his first ever one I told him that one day I will run a marathon and that I would do it with him. My dad was set to do the New York Marathon that has just passed, but in early May he got diagnosed with stage four cancer. I am running this race to show him that no matter how tough it gets, we are in this together. You are my hero dad and there is nothing that I want to see more than your smile when I cross that finish line. I expect a pack of rolos at the end like those many years ago when you crossed the line of your first marathon.

When I wrote the last two paragraphs the treatment plan looked hopeful and it seemed as though there was a chance to cure this agressive disease. However, after various chemotherapy plans had not worked and only prevented the cancer spreading the chances of treating it became slim. Eventually, the cancer had spread all around his body. My dad was a fighter up until the very end but unfortunately the cancer was too strong and took his life. I will be crossing that 26.2 mile line as he would have wanted me to do and will make him incredibly proud. I still want that pack of rolos though! I love you dad and you will always be with me in every walk of life. Please donate to such a great cause and help beat this nasty disease once and for all.