James Brown
James London Marathon 2022 for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice
Fundraising for Sue Ryder
Story
Following in my Dad"s footsteps..
If you haven't already heard, Dad's story is incredible!
Back in 2014 he was diagnosed with cancer. A scan revealed a tumour on his right lung and secondary tumours in his lymphatic system. He was told he had 6 months to live.
On the 1st September 2014 Dad had surgery to remove his right lung and 21 lymph nodes at the Spire Hospital in Bristol. 2 weeks later he was out enjoying lunch with the family!
In January 2015 against all medical advice, Dad started running to enhance his fitness and raise money and hope for Cancer Research UK.
In April 2016 he completed London Marathon with just one lung and raised over 20k for charities along the way! He also completed various other races such as Cheltenham Half and Race For Men.
Sadly in September 2016 Dad collapsed on a 8 mile training run for New York Marathon. He banged his head and received a brain scan at Gloucester Royal Hospital. He was sadly diagnosed with A Typical Carcinoid and the scan revealed 12 brain tumours. By the 15th October 2016 he under went brain surgery to have the biggest of the tumours removed as well as part of his skull. This was followed by an intensive course of radiotherapy to shrink the remaining tumours.
In 2018 one of his brain tumours had grown significantly. He required another brain operation in August 2018 at Southmead hospital. He was under the knife for 5 hours. Shortly after the operation during the night, he suffered a bleed on the brain and the whole family was called to the hospital at 1am. The amazing team at the hospital stopped the bleed but he was kept incubated on a ventilator for the next few days. Shortly after they brought him round he was asking the surgeon if he could go home because he needed to run!!
By March 2019 Dad needed another tumour removed as it was pressing on his brain effecting his stability. Shortly after his surgery we went to visit him on the high dependancy ward where we found him sat up eating a jam sandwich!! The next day he was told off by the nurses for wandering around trying to find a WIFI signal
Dad always remained hopeful and wanted to show others that "You aren't dying with cancer, you're living with it"
In September 2019 he was accepted for London Marathon again, A race he never got to run.
Sadly by the summer of 2020 Dads tumours were growing back even quicker than before, he now had over 20 tumours and surgery was no longer an option. Sue Ryder commenced Dad's palliative care at home coming over at least twice a day to not only support him but the family too.
On the 16th August 2020 Dads condition deteriorated and he was taken to the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice so he could be cared for properly around the clock. It the midst of a global pandemic we were unable to visit but the amazing staff were at the end of the phone so we could get updates as often as we liked.
Sadly just two days later Dad passed away after and incredible 6 year battle leaving behind his wife Emma, 3 grown up sons James, Tim and Joe along with his 10 year old twins Freddy and Lily May. My gosh don't we all miss that incredible man!
I started my running journey in May 2020 with the ambition of completing a run with Dad but he just wasn't well enough. I'm not going to lie, I hated running and couldn't understand why anyone would want to even think about it let alone run with one lung!
Anyway 18 months, I've got the bug and I absolutely love running! Although I'm devastated I never had the pleasure of running with him every run I complete, even if it is just around the block I do it in his memory.
In September 2021 I completed the Cheltenham Half Marathon in Dad's memory. It's was my time to give something back and that started here raising money for the amazing people that helped with Dads end of life care at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice.
After completing Cheltenham Half, I decided to enter London Marathon 2022 . I couldn't believe it! I was offered a place by Sue Ryder. It might be a couple of years later but I'm running this race for you Mr Brown!
I have an ambitious fundraising target of £5000 but i will give it my all, to train, get fitter and most importantly fundraise in the hope that others will receive the care Dad did in his final days.
London, I'm coming for you!
The care and support Sue Ryder provide is free but it costs Leckhampton Court £10,000 every single day to provide it. Every pound I can raise will help and here are a few examples of how the money I raise can help:
- £5 could provide a memory box for a bereaved child
- £19 could pay for one hour of expert care, helping people live the best life they possibly can
- £60 could provide an hour of bereavement counselling for someone strugglling with the loss of a loved one
- £140 could pay for a hospice nurse for a day
- £500 could pay for a bed for a day of inpatient care for a hospice patient.
I'm still running 3-4 times a week and will slowly build up the miles next year before the big day. I'll update my progress along the way.
Thank you for your donation, I promise it make a huge difference.
James
