Blood, sweat, tears, tantrums and injuries have already begun and the race hasn’t even started!

I am running the Brighton marathon on April 2nd in honour of one of my oldest and dearest friends Laurence. 

Laurence was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer. He was first diagnosed in April 2019, and despite surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the disease returned in the Spring of 2021 and there were very few treatment options available.  Yet he never stopped fighting. 

Laurence was a huge advocate to many charities that he worked for over the years, raising thousands of pounds, so it only feels right that we continue to do this in his honour.  

Last year we watched Laurences incredible husband and sister in law Holly take on the Brighton marathon. In a moment of madness, I promised him I would run the Brighton marathon and run it in support of bowel cancer UK. The hope being that the money I raised could help someone like Laurence. Someone who is going through their own battle with cancer and needs support and advice to help them through it.

Sadly Laurence lost his battle with cancer in May 2022. And therefore I would appreciate your support in helping me fulfill my promise to my incredible, strong, brave friend and raising money for the charity who helped him along his journey. 

I am so lucky to be running the marathon with 3 of Laurence’s best friends. I wish he was able to be there and laugh at us making such a crazy decision, but doing it in his memory makes it all worth it. 

I am so lucky to have met Laurence back when we were lifeguards together at 16 and became inseparable since! He was the best person I knew.  Kind, brave, strong and put everyone before himself.  The past 8 month have been so difficult without him. Sometimes it’s easy to put a nursing face on, pretend I’m ok and carry on, but life is so hard without him here. But, if I’m able to raise money to help research into saving someone else’s family/friend/sibling/spouse, then let the fundraising and insane challenges begin! 

We’re the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity.We 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.We’re here to stop people dying of bowel cancer.