In what’s been an incredibly challenging 12 months due to COVID-19, we’d recently found out that my grandad had been diagnosed with a brain tumour caused by melanoma and was given 6-12 months to live in January. In the space of 3 months he deteriorated from what was an very fit and healthy 80 year old, to struggling to walk, which was really difficult to see. 

He sadly passed away in March, at home, which was made a lot more peaceful through the incredible support offered by Rennie Grove Hospice Care team. 

My grandad was a man who spent his life working in bio-medicine, which he had a hugely successful career and was the lead scientist responsible for making the first break through in the treatment for HIV, specifically an HIV protease inhibitor, whilst working for Hoffman - La Roche Inc. Likewise, he also led on the creation of a treatment for Hepatitis C.

It was always an ambition of his to run the marathon, something he often said he wished he’d done when he was younger, and having tried but not been successful before, I now have a reason to run. 

He spent his entire life working in a career which was focused on making life better for people and in the end it was the Rennie Grove team who made his last few days that much more bearable and enjoyable.

We, as a family, will be forever grateful and the least I can do is finish this for him, but also raise money for a cause who both he and Grandma couldn’t thank enough for making the end peaceful.