I am raising money for Harry's Giant pledge which aims to raise funds to fight childhood cancer. I will be running the North Downs Way 100 which is a 103 mile race on 8 August 2020 from Farnham to Ashford along the North Downs Way. I decided to raise money for this cause after hearing Harry's mother Charlotte talk at Woldingham School, where I teach and where she went as a girl. Her description of Harry was heartbreaking to hear, particularly as he sounded so similar to my oldest son Ben. Read about Harry's story below.

On 1 June 2019, five-year-old Harry Shaw took his last breath after a tough 10 month battle against Ewing’s Sarcoma; a rare bone cancer. 

Harry's Giant Pledge will fund pioneering research into a new treatment approach for children with sarcoma cancers. The aim is to test cancer drugs that have been successfully trialled in adults so they can be used in paediatric treatment. The research will combine these drugs with radiotherapy for the first time to make the treatment more effective. Harry’s legacy will fund a research team to test this new treatment and help the Harrys of the future. 

Harry was diagnosed with cancer on 2 August 2018 when a routine scan on a small lump showed a tumour the size of a large baked potato inside Harry’s right chest. Harry was 4. He started 4 months of chemotherapy almost immediately at University College London Hospital, before surgery to remove the tumour in January at the Royal Brompton. Through all this he was determined and, unfazed by his hair loss, he continued to attend school. Unfortunately after this all the news was bad news and it became unavoidable that Harry would die. Harry eventually passed at the start of June 2019 after a number of weeks of pain and suffering that no one should have to go through. 

You may have seen Harry's story in the news, particularly when a video he sent to Lewis Hamilton inspired him to win the Spanish Grand Prix and Lewis' car and trophy visited Harry shortly before his death. His parents have also tirelessly promoted their campaign to raise funds for the Royal Marsden. There are some photos of Harry below.

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Show your support today and help me raise as much as possible for research into children's cancers at The Royal Marsden.