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Just over 12 years ago, my Mum, Kay was diagnosed with having pre-cancerous cells of a particularly agressive form of breast cancer.

At that time she underwent surgery and treatment which seemed to have caught the cancer in time and to have worked. She then got through her 5 year all clear, giving further reassurance that she had beaten the disease.

As many of my freinds will know, I started running again at the end of last year with one of my aims being to run a marathon, hopefully an iconic one (as I dont know if I will have more than one in me).

In April I applied for the ballot for the London Marathon 2014. Around that time Mum was having increasing instances stomach problems which was subsequently diagnosed as secondary (metastatic) breast cancer affecting her liver and digestive system

Mum embarked on a course of chemotherapy at the start of the summer in the hope of fighting the cancer which initially seemed to be working.  At the start of September however it became clear that the course of chemo she was on had stopped working and she was due to start a different course which was hoped would be more effective.

Around 12th September mum started to feel increasingly uncomfotable and was admitted to hospital on 21st September which we all though would be for a couple of days before she would be out and continuing with her treatment.

On 27th September I received confirmation in the post that I had my place in the marathon and when I saw Mum that evening she was pleased that I had got a place. Even though it was clear that she was deteriorating she was still being positive, making plans for the short and medium term ahead.

The following morning we received a call that she was deteriorating fast and she passed away just after 9am am while we were at the Hostpital. She was only 65 years old.

It seems apropriate that I run the marathon in Mums memory and to raise money for Cancer Research so that they can investigate the causes of cancer and how cancers move around the body so that treatments and cures can be developed to help people in the future.

As a family we are committed to raising as much money as possible this year for research into cancer and in particular metastasis so please give as much as you can!

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