Thanks for visiting my JustGiving page.  I did this event last year for Breakthrough Breast Cancer while Trish was still here - this year's effort will be even more poignant as, very sadly, she lost her 14-year battle with cancer in March this year.  Trish loved outdoor activities, including cycling, as can be seen in some of the photos here.  The main picture is one of my favourites - taken on a very happy holiday in Vietnam in 2013.

Trish's story demonstrates both the power of personal determination in fighting the awful disease of cancer, but also the importance of ongoing research in the advancement of medical treatments.  Without that research, I'm sure her battle would not have been possible for nearly as long, and her family and friends would not have enjoyed the many more years with her than we had feared at the outset of the journey.  I cannot really put the case better than Trish did herself in 2013 when fundraising for Cancer Research in her own 'Race for Life' walk, following time in hospital, on crutches and in a wheelchair.  With characteristic fortitude, she finished the event by jogging down the home straight, with a huge smile on her face..!

"Cancer Research is doing vital work to keep me and others alive longer with new treatments and preventative medicines. I hope one day that all cancers will be eradicated but in the meantime there have been many breakthroughs in research.
 
I have benefited so much from recent medical advances. I responded well to hormonal therapies for the first decade of my illness, with oestrogen blockers amongst other treatments, slowing the spread of the disease. Now that my cancer is no longer responsive to these blockers, and radiotherapy to my spine and a course of intravenous chemotherapy (starting straight after my operation) has failed to halt the spread of the disease, I am on a third line chemo that was only licensed two years ago. I am hopeful that this new drug is working well and have a big set of scans next week. The last scans showed the cancer has spread in my neck, spine, shoulders, pelvis, legs and other places in my bones and liver. However, my pain has reduced in the last few weeks so fingers crossed.
 
Living with cancer is sometimes hard and frightening, often painful and boring, and always unpredictable. But I have loads of joy, laughter, fun and fulfilment in my life thanks to all the support from my wonderful family and friends.
 
I feel lucky I am being treated in this decade but I would love others to benefit even more so that they can avoid the life changing diagnosis of cancer. Far too many of my dear friends and family have also had to hear the words 'you have cancer'.
 
None of these treatments would be here for me and others without all the incredible research that is going on. It is expensive and that is where Race for Life and other fundraising is so important. Please give whatever you feel able to.
 
Thank you, all my love
Trish"

Remarkable words, from a remarkable woman.  She is greatly missed by me and many others on a daily basis.  Please support my efforts on 2 August, in order to help 'Breast Cancer Now' continue their work into helping other sufferers with their own battles against cancer.

Many thanks, James

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