In February 2024 we lost our amazing Dad to bowel cancer, 2 years after he was diagnosed between Christmas and New Year. Dad had no symptoms until the disease was very progressed, as is common with bowel cancer, so it was a huge shock to us all when he was diagnosed after being seemingly healthy just weeks earlier.

Dad’s incredible oncology team led by Dr Tony Dhillon gave us 2 more years of family life and memories, including our wedding, birthdays, Christmases, graduations and starting uni. A lot of Dad’s treatment was really cutting-edge (he was the first UK patient to receive one particular treatment) and we know this is down to the work and dedicated research of charities like Bowel Cancer UK.

Early diagnosis is key to treating bowel cancer, and we’ve also thankfully experienced positive outcomes for close family members with early diagnosis and successful treatment. I am raising money for Bowel Cancer UK to raise awareness of this disease and in the hope that more people can have the best possible chance of survival.

I’m certainly not a natural runner and only completed my first 10k last year (pictured after with Dad) so 42.2 isn’t going to be a breeze… In honour of Dad’s love (/obsession) with music and to help get me through training and the race, please consider adding some songs to my Spotify playlist alongside a donation: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6gUQQIQ2zwMmmvacvS6pcT?si=vZWyOZgpRBKS35ia4Kre9Q&pt=41bb8856b014ea05cb4054157802fcaf

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A bit more about Bowel Cancer UK:

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.