Rachel Avon
Marathon challenge accepted
Fundraising for Cancer Research UK
Story
2019 is going to be an amazing year and hopefully one that I will never forget! I have been allocated a space to run for Cancer Research UK which is a charity so close to my heart as I know it is for many other people too.
Four years ago while pregnant with Cari, I was rushed into hospital and had my appendix out which was traumatic enough in itself at the time. Three days after giving birth to Cari, I was called back to the hosptial and told that they had found a very rare microscopic tumour. The tumour was Pseudomyxoma peritoneii (PMP) cancer and after much waiting and several scans over the first four months, they explained I had been extremely lucky and that the tumour had not spread. Not only is Cari an extremely special little girl but without being pregnant the tumour may have not been found and my story could be very different. As the cancer is rare (1 in 3 million), there is very little known about it but the worldwide specialist centre is in Basingstoke and the Welsh Health Board approved me for funding so each year my scans are sent down to Basingstoke to be reviewed by their specialist team.
Last year I shared my story for the first time to raise money for PMP survivors which is an amazing charity that has supported me and others effected by PMP. I am so honoured to be running for Cancer Research UK as it supports PMP as well as so many other smaller cancer charities.
Next year, 2019, will mark the five year point in my PMP journey and, hopefully, will mean that my yearly scans move to every five years and I move to a lower risk category. Whatever happens, I will be doing everything I can to get myself through the marathon and every step of the 26.2 miles I will be thinking of how lucky I am to be able to be running and taking part! Running is something I never knew I could do until 14 months ago so to even be writing this seems surreal but I am excited and nervous all at the same time!
Although I don’t have a set target as such I am setting out to raise as much as I possibly can do that I can make a difference!
I will keep you updated on the training. Lots of love xxxxx