On the 21st of September 2025 it will be FIVE whole years since my beloved Damien died from the rare cancer Sarcoma.

Damien loved trekking and loved a challenge; the photo below was taken in May 2018 as we summited Mount Toubkal in North Africa. After our descent and back in Marrakech, sipping champagne, Damien had a pain in his side and thought he had pulled a muscle and there began his 2-year cancer journey.

We were lucky to do a final trek just before lockdown hit in March 2020. In February 2020 we travelled to Oman to hike in the Jebal Akhdar mountains. We hiked 2,000 feet into a canyon and back up again, while I was almost on my hands and knees - Damien breezed it, he was fit as a fiddle. The cancer had metasticised at this point and astonishingly he hiked with SEVEN tumours in his lungs.

Damien was only 64 years old, and had great joie de vivre, he faced his cancer journey with courage, bravery, and humour and selflessness.

Damien was a warrior - my warrior, my soulmate and the love of my life and the best father and friend to Conor and Maeve.

Damien and I were together for 42 years he died on the 21st of September 2020.

To honour Damien’s life and his love of challenges I will be doing the London Marathon in 2025. Those who know me, know I’m no runner, in fact, I don’t really like it but in a fit of the vapours one evening I decided to apply to run on the Sarcoma UK Team and they accepted me! Taking part in the London Marathon will be an enormous challenge for me and great big ‘up yours’ to the sepsis I survived last year. I will be starting from scratch, a complete beginner. I have 8 months to train, it is now August 2024 and last week I ran 3 x 5k’s, the most I have run in my entire life. I will provide updates on my progress, the good and the bad along the way.

Sarcoma is a rare cancer, it makes up 2% of all cancers diagnosed in the UK each year. It has over 100 subtypes, and according to Sarcoma UK it is referred to as the 'loneliest cancer" because those diagnosed with the cancer sometimes never meet anyone with their subtype of sarcoma. Damien was diagnosed with myxofibrosarcoma, there are roughly 178 cases each year.

I’m supporting Sarcoma UK, a national charity that funds vital research, offers support for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer and campaigns for better treatments. Sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in the bone and soft tissue. It is difficult to diagnose and one of the hardest to treat. By supporting me, we can help change this. Your donation will help researchers find answers, keep Sarcoma UK's Support Line open, and raise awareness to improve treatment and standards of care.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my story. If you can find it in your hearts to sponsor me, please, I will be forever grateful.

Thank you for your support.