Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am running the London Marathon on Sunday 3^rd October to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.

My sister Clare (now 43) was diagnosed with a brain tumour back in 1981. She was 3 years old at the time. She spent 6 months at Great Ormand Street Hospital in London having radiotherapy to kill off the cancerous cells. Her chances of survival when she had the 8hr operation to remove the cancerous tumour in her brain were 50%. It was then unknown what the long term consequences were and how long she would ultimately live for.

Clare has survived for 40 years now and she is happy and content but in truth dealing with the devastating consequences of the radiotherapy that was given at the time to kill off the huge tumour, the size of a tennis ball at the back of her head.

Clare is a constant amazement and incredibly inspirational not just to me but to my family and to many who know her. She can’t see or hear properly. She has very bad balance. She cant walk, eat or go to the loo unaided. She can’t use her right-hand side of her body. She can’t eat solids. She travels everywhere in a wheelchair now. She can’t do anything that the most of us simply take for granted. And yet she’s never complained not once, about the debilitating disease she has had for 40 years. 

She’s got the mental strength of an ox and she keeps fighting on. Her disabilities continue to remind me of how lucky I am to simply have a working body, arms and legs and to simply enjoy that and never take it for granted!

Clare has inspired me to do a lot of running, swimming and cycling challenges of all kinds to date and will always continue to do so. However, this challenge of running the London Marathon is probably one of the most special as I have never done it before and will whole heartedly run it thinking of her but also many others whose families are affected by this disease, in particular very close friends, the Higham’s and the Cooks.

I will also be thinking of the amazing carers Clare has and had and my Mum and sister Fi who have looked after and supported her tirelessly
for the last 43 years. It's Clare and these people that continue to drive and inspire me.

Brain Tumour Research is doing brilliant things. I want to help them raise as much money as possible so please, please do give what you
can.

A huge, huge thanks again for all your support and wish me luck on the run. I will need it!

James/Belchy

Brain Tumour Research Facts:

1. 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a primary or
secondary brain tumour, 2,200 of those are Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM's).

2. Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour
survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers.

3. Brain Tumours kill more children and adults under the age
of 40 than any other cancer.

4. Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been
allocated to this devastating disease. The national Spend on Brain Tumour Research needs to increase to £35m a year.

More info can be found at: https://www.braintumourresearch.org/

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.