I will be running the TCS London Marathon 2025 in memory of my incredible grandpa, Colin Rodwell.

My grandpa was first diagnosed with myxoid liposarcoma in 2015 and was referred to the sarcoma specialists in Oxford. Sarcoma is a rare cancer that develops in the bone and soft tissue. It is difficult to diagnose and one of the hardest to treat. In Oxford, he underwent radiotherapy and surgery. In 2020, his scans showed inoperable tumours. He started chemotherapy and continued to battle the disease for a further four more years, achieving so much during that time. In total, he fought for nine years, and his active lifestyle and positive outlook made it hard to believe he was battling such a serious illness. We called my grandpa "King Rodwell", a title he truly deserved. Just weeks before he passed I was spiralling with a problem I was sure he couldn't fix. Lo and behold, he found a solution and told me that if I take anything from the life he has led it is the power of positivity.

It's a well-known fact that I really don't like running. I've played various sports my whole life, however, I was never good at distance running, and therefore, I had to avoid it at all costs. Everything in life comes with challenges, and as my grandpa always reminded me, the power of positivity is crucial in overcoming them. I needed a challenge that lived up to King Rodwell's standards and that's why I'm here, training for one of the best marathons in the world. If marathon training isn't hard enough I'll be training during my ski season in Japan... on a treadmill... Sarcoma UK helps those who are fighting like my grandpa did. This incredible charity funds vital research, supports those battling sarcoma, and campaigns for better treatments.

My family and I are so grateful for the specialist doctors and nurses and critically the research into these various treatments that made this precious time with my grandpa possible. Here is my Strava link if you'd like to follow my progress: https://strava.app.link/0wFcexYqxNb

Holly xx