I am so pleased to be running and raising money for Macmillan- totting up all of the amazing fundraising so far in memory of Dad.

I don’t think Dad would believe me if I told him I was going to do the London Marathon. I can clearly picture him laughing at me. But he’d be very proud seeing me cross the finish line (maybe even shed a tear) and that’s what’s going to get me through the streets of London just six months from now.

(Oh, and I’m also doing the Brighton Half Marathon in February for Macmillan)

I need your support to help raise as much as possible to keep continuing the amazing work being done by Macmillan. 

If you’d like to hear the full story of how Macmillan helped our family and why I’m running for Macmillan, read below.

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How Macmillan supported Dad

“Macmillan gives people with cancer everything they’ve got. If you’re diagnosed, your worries are Macmillan’s worries.” - This was certainly the case for Dad. 

When Dad began receiving treatment for his cancer, he was self-employed, working a manual job - which posed a threat to his earnings. Dad would sometimes work when he probably should have been recovering. Wellbeing is so closely linked to our financial security, so at a time when your health should be your biggest concern, you don’t want to be worrying about finances. Macmillan helped signpost to all of the financial support available to him.. 

Undoubtedly the most valuable support Macmillan gave Dad was through his Macmillan nurse, Rachel Alexander - who was a beacon of support and positivity for him. She was a constant pillar, there to answer any and all questions he had throughout his illness.

When Dad’s cancer became terminal, she helped him with important paperwork and extended her support to us as a family. We had questions that we sometimes couldn’t ask Dad directly. Dad wasn’t allowed visitors in his final few weeks, but Rachel offered us reassuring updates and advice when we were unable to reach Dad directly.

Dad asked for Macmillan to be the charity we raised money for when he passed. Friends and family together raised an impressive total in excess of £5,000 in his memory.

I’m keen to build on all this amazing fundraising in memory of Dad. 

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Remembering Rachel Baker

My best friend’s family sadly lost their Mum, Rachel Baker, to ovarian cancer earlier this year. Macmillan were there to support her through her illness and are an important charity to their family. I will be carrying Rachel in my thoughts throughout my training and on the big day.

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Also running for Grandma and Mum’s Mum

Cancer has impacted our family more than once, as it does to so many. My Mum lost her Mum to bowel cancer when she was 16 and I lost my Grandma in 2011 from lung cancer. I'll be running for them too. 

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Macmillan’s doing whatever it takes. But without your help, Macmillan can’t support everyone who needs them. 

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