Welcome to my fundraising page. It has been a difficult journey for our family (affectionately known as Team Finnie) and we are so grateful for your support in meeting the fundraising goal.

Why I’m running for Finnbar’s Force.

Our journey began on Thursday 19^th March 2020, four days before the first national lockdown was announced. Our beautiful son Finnie, aged 7 at the time, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. We were transferred by ambulance from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and admitted to Addenbrooke's children's oncology ward for treatment. Chemotherapy began the next day. Cancer treatment for children is gruelling and intense. 

Finnie's treatment will last for three years.

This is news that no family should ever have to face, but during a pandemic and in lockdown, it has been incredibly hard. Facing a life changing situation we could never have imagined, it has been the unstinting support of our friends, family, colleagues and charities such as Finnbar’s Force that has helped and continues to sustain us. Their enduring kindness has overwhelmed us; and we feel very blessed indeed to be surrounded by such love.

Many of our friends and family have raised large amounts of money in Finnie's name in order to support other children fighting cancer. His aunt shaved her hair and raised £3,500 in order to fund new play equipment to support the fantastic work of the 'PlayTeam' at Addenbrooke's. Finnie's Daddy and his friends ran over 2000 miles in a month, raising £3,700 in order to purchase ipads and Nintendo Switch’s for oncology children at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Two family friends raised over £4000 cycling from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to Addenbrooke's in Cambridge, and back home, in a day!

Inspired by their actions, I feel I want to show my appreciation for their support. My goal on Sunday 17^th July 2022 is to complete the Run Norwich 10K in Finnie’s name- no small feat for a novice runner!

How Finnbar’s Force helps families.

Finnbar’s Force is the Norfolk-based Cancer Charity committed to making every family feel that they are supported when and where they need to be. They are working to provide a more comforting environment for children and families attending chemotherapy clinics at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital.

The charity work with service providers and charities in Norfolk to look at ways support can be improved for families with a child undergoing treatment for cancer.

The charity support research into childhood brain tumours and potential treatments - since 2017 they have donated almost £40,000 to research projects that will help children with brain tumours.

They give families of children diagnosed with cancer grants of £500 to help cover some of the costs faced upon initial diagnosis, such as travelling to a far-away hospital, car parking and food whilst away from home.

They've developed an information toolkit for families to direct them to the best online resources and connect them with charities and services that can help them locally.

Our journey.

Finnie’s diagnosis has taught us so much and changed us as a family. We no longer take things for granted, and always remember that not every family affected by childhood cancer gets to bring their beautiful child home from hospital. This has given us a new perspective on life and grief. We are truly blessed that Finnie’s prognosis is a good one and that on 20^th May 2023, he will ring the End of Treatment Bell.

In the months since Finnie was diagnosed, Finnbar’s Force have supported us and our family. Childhood cancer is something which changes a family forever, but Finnbar’s Force has helped us to meet other families undergoing cancer treatment, offering the opportunity to talk about our shared experiences. They have also provided resources that have helped us to deal with the pain, keep going every day, return to work and stay strong.

Running has helped to strengthen my mental wellbeing. The opportunity to run the Norwich 10K for Finnbar’s Force, as one of their team of 20, has taken this to a different level and I could not have come this far without the encouragement of my running buddy Rachel, who lost her wonderful Mum to cancer.

I am doing this for Finnie, and in the hope that the work of charities such as Finnbar’s Force can continue to reduce the number of families facing what we face every day.

Thank you for your support.

Kellie