Updated on Oct 2nd 2011 at 8:35 AM from the JustGiving API

Well the day has come! I'll be heading off in 15 mins. Race starts at 10:30. Neil is planning on coming, which after a pretty awful week of treatment is admirable. Really pleased to see that it's a scorching day...that'll really help - not!! I'll be thinking of you all as I endeavour to keep going. If I can keep up my 10min miles I may just beat 3 out of 10 bananas!! Here we go. Joxxx

Sunday 25th September 2011

Can't believe the run is next weekend. My runners "pack" arrived this weekend - I've got the t-shirt now, just need to wear it! I managed 4 miles today and there was more in the tank so I am hopeful that if the run is mainly on the flat, that I might be able to run most of it.

£100 pays for one day of a Phd student to undertake research into blood cancer and I've raised enough money to pay for over a month. Many, many thanks to everyone for their support - between us we have made a real contribution.

Neil goes back into hospital tomorrow for cycle 3, we also get the results of another PET scan, which should tell us how well he is responding to the treatment. A big week for all of us.

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Sunday 18th September 2011

There is a repeating pattern here...time has been "non existent"! This week has not been a great one for Neil but towards the end of the week he has really come through it and is feeling really good and positive. For me, the week went completely to hell as my help for the week (Neil's Mum) woke up with a cold on Monday morning and had to head for home. On Monday I was at the point of despair but as the Mum's at school rallied round, I re-organised my work (sometimes into the night shift!) and got into a new rhythm, it kind of came together (except for running!). I continue to surprise myself at just how long you can "just keep on going".

I finally went out for a run yesterday and did the 3 miles again - and took 2 minutes off the time. I'm about to go again. My plan is to pick up to 4 miles next week and 5 in the final week before the race. That leaves the last mile and a bit on the day as a totally new experience!

Thanks again for all the donations and emails of support. I may not have replied to any of you personally yet but I have read them all and I am carrying all your words around me as one enormous virtual hug, which I am drawing on continually.

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Sunday 11th September 2011

Time for running has been non existent this week with Neil in hospital for his second cycle of chemotherapy, kids to get back to school, work to do, builders to see etc! I finally managed to get out Saturday morning. What I can say is that I am beginning to really enjoy it - well the first couple of miles anyway! It is just about the only thing I do for myself right now and having some time and space for my own thoughts feels like a luxury. Yesterday I pushed it to 3 miles with 1.5 miles of it in an uphill wind tunnel - not easy! Everytime I think about stopping I can hear everyone's words of support and encouragement and I just dig in and carry on - you are all running with me in a virtual kind of way!

Neil has come home after his second cycle of treatment which he has coped really well with, despite the higher dosage. His next milestone is a PET scan on 23rd September which will show us what progress he is making.

Well...I need to get up and get running...21 days to go...

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Saturday 3rd September 2011

This week has been a great week for us, Neil has been pretty well and has been able to do "normal stuff" with the family! Normal is really good right now. Ruby & Jack have laughed a lot at Daddy's bald head which has helped us laugh too.

The support I have been having through donations and emails continues to be fantastic and even though I was pretty tired by the end of the week, your words have got me into my trainers today to do another 2 mile run. 23 mins is not too bad and it is getting more comfortable - hoping to get to 3 miles next week. To Andrew's comment "Go Forrest Go" - I fear that I may look a little less elegant than that!

...I'll be out tomorrow...keep the support coming. Jxx 

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Updated on Aug 30th 2011 at 11:10 PM from the JustGiving API

What an amazing start - I can't believe the support I've had both in sponsorship and from your messages. You have all inspired me to double my distance - 2 miles tonight! Every time I wanted to stop I thought of you all and just kept going. Thanks SO much to you all. Jxx

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My story? To be honest I was never meant to have one...

On the 11th July I signed up for this 10k run as a challenge to myself to get back to a good level of fitness - something to do with the clock ticking as I raced towards my 40th birthday! The only connection I had with Leukaemia and Lymphoma was my post code and its proximity to the charity race.

I signed up for this race on my husband Neil's birthday. Nine days later, following a chest x-ray for a persistent, annoying cough Neil was told that he had a shadow on his lungs that needed further investigation. On the 11th of August after many more tests and a week in hospital with pneumonia, Neil was finally diagnosed with an aggressive lymphoma in his chest.

We are over the shock and have started what is going to be a long journey to beat this. Neil needs courage, conviction and determination, all of which he is displaying in spades and I am unbelievably proud of him. To a large extent I need the same if I am to be his "roadie" on this particular journey - in addition I need the capacity to be his wife and friend, as well as Mum to Ruby and Jack, breadwinner and project manager to the rather large house project we took on in April this year! Yes you could say I'm going to be busy!

In case that wasn't enough for one nearly 40 year old woman I am also going to complete this run come hell or high water. Just so you know how hard this is going to be for me I'll share my one mile test run outcome with you: I managed half a mile in style then cried for the next half a mile, partly because I needed to stop but mostly because I wanted it all to stop. Not the best of starts but if Neil can take on his challenge the least I can do is run a measly 10k and raise some cash for a charity that has helped make blood cancer curable.

Training starts on Tuesday 30th - I basically have my lunch hour at work and not a lot else. The race is on the 2nd October - that's 34 days. As anyone who knows me will tell you - I'll do it. I'm doing it for Neil and for all those people who have given us hope and support over the last month.

Please sponsor me - help to beat blood cancer for others as we fight to beat it together.

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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.