I'm running for my friend Kathy and Freya, supporting life-changing cancer research here at Manchester. On 18 May 2025, I’ll be taking part in the Purple Wave – a 10k challenge.

Kathy's Story

I owe mine and my daughter’s life to cancer research and The Christie. In my 27th week of pregnancy, I felt unable to eat, drink or even walk without unbearable pain in my abdomen. After being discharged from my local hospital for suspected hyperemesis, I went home to battle on after a few intravenous rehydration infusions. The following evening, I was doubled over in pain and my leg was swollen badly. We drove to St. Mary's hospital and after 48 hours on the maternity ward where I was alongside women in labour it became clear the pain I was experiencing was something more sinister. I was carrying 12 litres of additional fluid on my upper abdomen and once the fluid was drained it was confirmed I had a high grade 3c serous cancer - a type of ovarian cancer. The same cancer my mother was diagnosed with when I was just 20 years old. After the fluid was removed, it returned rapidly and both our lives were on the line. The oncological team at St Mary’s contacted the Christie and a multidisciplinary team put a plan to save our lives into action.

We were to endure 3 rounds of chemotherapy together and then I was to have 3 further rounds alone. Because the chemotherapy stunted my daughter’s growth, it was decided after the second round of chemotherapy, at 31 weeks, that she would be born early. Thankfully, although supported with oxygen my little lady was discharged from intensive care 10 days later. We then attended The Christie hospital together for 4 further rounds up until my daughter was 4 months old. We were given a room so that I could try my best to be a normal mummy and the staff were phenomenal. I then had a further 26 cycles of chemotherapy in tablet form which I’m due to complete in March 2025.

So as Leah embarks on her 10k around Manchester every step is helping to save lives.

Cancer is real but so are the amazing doctors and researchers that use the funding to save everyday ordinary people’s lives. My current treatment is over £4.5k per month and I have been given 26 cycles. The recurrence rate of this disease is 85% and there is an unlikely cure is it returns but the treatment I’ve been given has not only allowed me to be a mother to my daughter for 2 years so far but it has reduced the reoccurrence rate down to 55%. Humbling to know we’re worth the funding and every day I’m grateful for☺️ Current treatment wasn’t available for my poor mum and 20 years of research has meant that we are still here to tell this tale of hope. We carry the BRCA gene and this treatment is particularly effective for others like us. So will your funding help save lives? 1,000,000% yes and maybe just maybe I’ll be joining Leah next year once my treatment ends.

Thank you Leah for choosing to support cancer research at Manchester!

Manchester is already world leading in its cancer research. Everyday our amazing researchers make discoveries which have lifechanging impact world over.

So please join me in supporting Manchester's life-changing research by sponsoring me today.

Thank you!