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I am about to embark on a challenge like no other a man of my age or condition should even contemplate - the training for, and hopefully completion of the London 2014 marathon in April.

My inspiration for this? simple - a lifelong mate Dave Thompson. My reason for running in aid of the Sarcoma UK charity? - The Sarcoma cancer, a rare form which affects bones and tissue, has been attacking my mate for the last few years and made him extremely poorly. We both want to create greater awareness to this form of cancer and generate funds for those who suffer its indiscriminate infestation today and for those unfortunate to suffer in the future. 

By coincidence, around the time of the marathon on 13 April 2014, I will have known Dave exactly 40 years - we met aged 7 at a Caravan park our respective parents took a liking to, near Gatehouse-of-fleet, in the picturesque south west of Scotland. 40 years on, and we still frequent the same caravan park with our own families, a place we call 'paradise'. 

Dave's family were from Northumberland and mine from Cheshire so we only ever met during the holidays at the caravan but despite sometimes never seeing each other for months over the shutdown winter period, as soon as we arrived each visit, friendship was revived.

Dave (along with his brother Phil) came with me on my first holiday abroad without parents in 1984 - you don't forget your first one, and believe me this one lives long in the memory!!!

Despite our chaotic adult family lives meaning we didn't get to see much of each other at the caravan, as my life evolved and the years kicked on, I realised that I had known Dave longer than any other friend in my life. Our parents were friends, our wives became friends and our children are all friends. Upon the unexpected sudden death of my mother in 2004, Dave didn't think twice and drove up from London for her funeral in Cheshire before driving back down after the ceremony - that's the sort of bloke he is!

Devastation hit Dave and his family when in 2005 he was diagnosed with cancer - a fibro sarcoma in his abdominal wall. Despite apparent success with its removal, the cancer struck again in 2007 this time into his lungs requiring a series of 7 operations to remove reoccurring tumors.  Despite all this, Dave's dogged determination was to continue as normal a life as possible with his young family - and credit to the guy, if you met him in the street you wouldn't have a clue, as he is always smiling - apart from when talking about Newcastle United!!! This horrific disease did its worst however in 2012 when it was detected as being rife in Dave's bones along with 3 further tennis ball sized tumors in his abdomen. The tumors were eventually removed and Dave is currently on a new drug which has stabilised the bone cancer.

Despite all that Dave has faced and continues to face I remain convinced a lesser man would have already succumbed! During his darker moments I would write to Dave and basically tell him that if anyone could put mind over matter it was him - there is just something about Dave, he is the last person in the world who deserves what he has, and yet if I had to hand pick someone to fight this battle - it would be him!

Frustrated at being helpless and only able to repeat the same words of attempted comfort to Dave I wanted to do something - I am neither a medic nor a magician - I know that - so I decided to ask him if I could run the London marathon in his honour and raise money for a charity of his choice - he chose Sarcoma UK because it is the Sarcoma cancer which keeps attacking him and Sarcoma UK who need funds to support him and other sufferers.

My hope is that all who read this story dig deep into their pockets. I have never run a marathon nor any distance that could even be considered a half of one - I had to pick a challenge, something that people will hopefully look at and think "Challenge + Very ill lifelong mate - I'm donating to that"! 

Dave is currently receiving therapy from a Cognitive Therapist which has been of great help to him as he simply refuses to give in - that is his challenge, so please can I urge you to donate to mine, and support his chosen charity, Sarcoma UK - absolutely any contribution of any size will be hugely welcome and appreciated.

Thank you.

Neill.

Keep in touch with me on facebook.com/neill.simmons.1

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