Cancer is a sinister, random and insidious entity, completely without dignity, reasonableness, fairness or compassion - it lacks anything remotely human, it is without soul. It is a disease about which we still know so little, and it can leave you feeling utterly powerless. It wreaks havoc and devastation in so many people’s lives.

Sian (Neale, pictured at the top of the page, my eldest daughter), Ed Showler and Sharni Ruming, were doubly unfortunate to be afflicted by not only cancer, but a very, very rare cancer, Clear Cell Sarcoma. All three were just 30 years of age, when they died, a tragic, unimaginable waste...

Much has been done in the fight against cancer, and while its true that survival rates are so much better than they were 10 years ago, it is still a dreadful killer. Unfortunately, at the moment, Clear Cell Sarcoma is generally incurable, and at the moment, there remains no known effective treatment for it.

The Edward Showler Foundation is trying to change that. The Foundation was set up by Ed’s parents, John and Ellie, with the purpose of funding research into the causes and treatment of Sarcoma and specifically Clear Cell Sarcoma. A ground breaking research programme is currently underway at University College Hospital London, which is starting to make some headway in understanding this most complex of cancers.

In memory of Sian, Ed and Sharni, a group of us are undertaking a 10 kilometre run around Cambridge on Sunday 15th October. In doing so, we hope to raise as much money as possible for The Edward Showler Foundation. Currently, the runners are me (Alan), Cara (my daughter, Sian's sister), Martin Forster, Bex & Livvy Hawthorne, James Cleaver and Marianne & Tom Warwick. Additional runners very welcome!

If you are able to support us, no matter how small, that would be much appreciated; we need to try to beat this terrible disease before it takes other young lives. Our target is modest, and I am hoping, with your help, we will smash through it...

Thank you

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