I'm taking part in the Great North Run to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK and for a great friend of mine, Greg. Here is his story...

"As many of you know running has always been a passion of mine and the GNR was on my bucket list to run. Unfortunately I’m now unable to run at all due to cancer, so Ronnie is running it for me.

BCUK is close to my heart, having initially being diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in 2021. I underwent major surgery followed by chemotherapy and got the all clear. Unfortunately in Jan 2023, I got the news that the cancer had come back, I under went 28 rounds of radiotherapy to try and blast the cancer in my lymph nodes but this didn’t work. The cancer advanced and spread into my pelvic bone with a 9cm tumour (hence the reason I can’t run 😬). I now have stage 4 cancer and having immunotherapy and chemotherapy every 2 weeks. It’s pretty gruelling, but I’ve done 11 rounds so far and I’ll be on this treatment for as long as it continues to work.

BCUK’s mission is that no one should die from bowel cancer. If caught early it is treatable and curable. They aim to lower the age of screening as it’s currently only offered to people over 60 as it was thought that young people don’t get bowel cancer, which is completely untrue.

If you can take anything from this please remember the following symptoms, it may save your life.

Blood in your poo or from your bum.

Obvious changes in your bowel habit.

Weight loss you can’t explain.

Extreme tiredness for no apparent reason.

Lump and/or pain in your tummy.

Any sponsorship money will be greatly appreciated"

Greg has raised thousands of pounds (10k and still rising) for BCUK already and has made myself and so many others realise the importance of this amazing charity. Let's get running!