Thank you for visiting our  fundraising page. This is a charity very close to my heart and I promise I have and will 'endure' these events not only for fellow Non Hodgkins sufferers and their families but for anyone who has had their world changed by cancer.

Here's my story ....

In 2002 I was mum to 2 lively boys aged 5 and 2 and as so often happens I sadly endured a failed pregnancy resulting in the loss of my third son. Before this, I’d been seeing the GP after becoming concerned about some lumps that I’d noticed on my body and it was at this point that I insisted on being given a clean bill of health before thinking about trying for another baby. On the 23rd December 2002 I was given the type of news that feels like a sledgehammer; I had Low Grade Follicular Non Hodgkins Lymphoma......cancer!!!! “We’ll be seeing a lot of you over your life and hopefully into your late fifties/sixties .... We should be able to keep you going until then” said the haematologist. It was the day before Christmas Eve and passing on my unbelievable news to my family was even worse than hearing the news myself. I was 34 and my rosy little world had turned black. However, I didn’t want my life to be black and my determination to get on with it, beat it, be a happy Mum and be the person I always was, saw me through the uncomfortable bone marrow biopsy, chemo and stem cell harvests that were to come.

My positive attitude and stoic mindset could not have been maintained if I hadn’t had the support of NEPAC, a local voluntary charity set up in 1989 which last year gave out £210,019. Most of this money was given to support blood-related cancer research in the RVI, The Children Fund/Crawford House, plus Hospices and Support Groups. When I underwent the bone biopsy the Doctor enthusiastically informed me that “if you are going to get this cancer, this is the time to get it as there is so many breakthrough cures happening”. These much needed breakthroughs may not happen if it wasn’t for such great charities like NEPAC. I started my Just Giving page in order to celebrate (in a beneficial way) my 40th Birthday ... I'm 48 this year. It has certainly been successful, I’ve raised over £6000 so far and I've thoroughly enjoyed the events me and my family have completed.

This year is turning out very special for me. I was completely taken by surprise when my name appeared on the New Year Honours list, I am to be awarded a British Empire Medal for charitable services to Cancer Research and Awareness! This and finding out that my very good friend's teenage son has been diagnosed with NHL in November has inspired 2016 goals to be set. Anyone who knows me understands that these challenges are not easy for me as I’m no natural but I am a determined woman who does these things no matter how well I do it, how I look or even how red my face gets.

Here’s my plan ……..

•    Lots of walking

Lyke Wake Walk – over 40 mile walk across North Yorkshire Moors which has to be completed in a 24 hour period. DONE

Yorkshire 3-peaks challenge - 17th September 2016

2017 Lakes 3 Peaks Challenge – 3000 footers in less than 16 hours.

•    Lots of Running

New one’s like Haweswater (done) & Druridge Bay half-marathons, Pier to Pier (both done) , and some re-runs like The Blaydon Race (done), Gibside Fruitbowl and I'll squeeze a few more in including doing most of the North East Harrier League 2015/2016 series and about to embark on 2016/2017 season.

What we've done ................

2015
Coast 2 Coast – Tony and Josh (aged 15) completed the 3 day 140 mile bike ride from Workington to Sunderland
Whole family completed the 10k Blaydon Race
2014
Great North Run in 2:04 - bit disappointed not to make under 2 hours but hey, there's always next time!
'Commute Triathlon' - bike ride from home to work (13 miles) followed by bike ride to Elswick then 1 mile swim at the Pool followed by run home of 9 miles ...phew!
10K Blaydon Race.
2013
Newcastle Stampede – a muddy 10k obstacle course completed by myself, Tony and Ethan.
10K Blaydon Race.
Great North Run.
2012
10K Blaydon Race completed by Tony and Ethan.
Great North Run.
2011
Great North Run completed by Tony.
2010
Great North Run.
2009
Great North Run completed by Tony
NORTHERN ROCK CYCLONE CHALLENGE 104 miles June 2010 by Tony.
2008
10K Blaydon Race.
Coast 2 Coast cycle ride - 12th - 14th July over 3 days to celebrate my 40th birthday.
Great North Run.
Boxing Day Dip - brrrrrrr!!!!

SPONSORSHIP IS AS HARD AS EVER TO RAISE BUT PLEASE REMEMBER THERE ARE SO MANY CHARITIES THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM NEPAC INCLUDING:
•RVI Bone Marrow Research
•Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphona Research
•Northumberland Cancer Support Group
•North Northumberland Day Hospice
•Marie Curie Day Centre
•St Oswald’s Hospice
•Bristol Cancer Support Centre
•RVI Breast Cancer Research
•Tyneside Children’s Hospice
•Tynedale Community Hospice
•Tyneside McMillan Nurses Appeal

NOT FORGETTING Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphona Research

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: North East Promenaders Against Cancer (Nepac) will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Offline Donations so far: £5 Brenda - thanks for the encouraging card; £5 Kathleen & Ken; £70 Mam's friends from Barley Mow Dance Club - thanks for the words of support (Ken & Nora, Hazel Quinn,Norma Crosby,Norma and Brian); £45 Aunt Dorothy who I have to thank dearly for the padded cycling shorts!; £20 Rita & Colin; £25 Joan & John; £25 Anne and Ronnie Sproul; £10 Joyce and Brian Cresswell; £20 from anon; £10 Jack & Edna; £14 Mam's friends at Burnopfield Dance Club ; £10 May Smith; £3 Maur; £2 Sue Bax;£5 Richard Ward; £20 P J Morrill; £30 G Wales