On February 10th, at the age of 67, my dad Brian Scott passed away, three months after being diagnosed with stage four brain cancer.

His final weeks at home presented us as a family with some of the most challenging experiences I could ever imagine going through, emotionally, psychologically, and physically. But, with the help of the Peace Hospice, his pain and discomfort were kept to a manageable level, and we were provided some respite from the burden of tending to his rapidly changing needs. When the time was right, the Peace Hospice provided dad with a calm, tranquil, and medically supervised environment in which to spend his final days.

The service the Peace Hospice provides is unspeakably important. There is nothing that can prepare you for the finality of someone passing, but to be guided gently through the process by experienced hands helped prevent the experience from ever deteriorating into all-out hell.

On June 10th, I'll be running my first 100-mile race at the South Downs Way 100, hosted by Centurion Running. Stretching from Winchester to Eastbourne, the South Downs Way is one of Britain's oldest footpaths, passing through a landscape of rolling chalk hills and wide-open views of the south coast of England. The race could take me anywhere from 21 to 30 hours, though I hope to finish it in under 24.

Undoubtedly this run will be very hard indeed; whilst I have run multiple 50-mile races, I know that 100 miles will require so much more of me than simply twice the effort. But, having observed the strength of dad and my family throughout the terrible months behind us, I know that nothing can compare to what we have already endured, and I want to use this race as a chance to run grateful for everything we had and have, and to raise funds for a vital service.