OK so on October 2nd I ran the London Marathon in memory of Laura, my eldest daughter as well as to raise funds for Bowelcanceruk.  Thanks to some amazing people I raised an incredible £7,600 which was absolutely brilliant.  So thank you so much to everyone.  I didn't think it fair to ask again for another event - but I am !   This time it's still in memory of Laura, of course and still raising funds for Bowelcanceruk, of course. 

In 2017 Laura gave birth to twin girls, giving her 4 year old daughter 2 sisters.  Just over twelve months later she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Bowel Cancer.  Two years later, on December 28th 2019, at the age of 36,  Laura lost her life to Bowel Cancer.  

For most of her working life Laura had worked as a fund raiser for Cancer charities.  At numerous events she had extolled the virtues of raising funds to fight Cancer. Following on from her diagnosis she continued to work relentlessly towards raising funds as well as speaking to fellow cancer sufferers about having a positive state of mind and support in dealing with the diagnosis. 

From 2018 to almost the last few days in 2019 she kept a blog about how she dealt with the diagnosis as well as her faith and the positivity of her mindset.  This blog can now be found in book form and is available on Amazon, "Nobody Said it Would be Easy" by Laura Stephenson. All proceeds go to BowelcancerUK  

Everyone who met Laura commented upon her ability to talk to people from all backgrounds, ethnicity and generations.  She was an amazing lady. 

If I have half the courage in completing these runs,  that Laura showed in battling Cancer, then I will have no problem at all in undertaking these runs.  Before undertaking the London Marathon last year, my last run of any distance, a half marathon, was a long long long time ago.  I ran it with Laura and she encouraged me all the way round!  This time I'm keeping her in the front of my thoughts and I know she will be watching me and encouraging me yet again  - "Go on Dad you can do it !" 

But this time rather than one event it's for 18 organised runs starting in January 2023  leading up to the London Marathon in April 2024 !   The runs will either be 10k, Half Marathon or full Marathon.   Total distance will be over 300 miles. 

Bowelcanceruk are the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. They fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care. They are quite simply here to stop people dying of bowel cancer.