As some, but maybe not all of you, might know… In 2004,  Billy Greenall was diagnosed with a stage four Wilms tumour, also known as ‘Nephroblastoma’. This is a type of kidney cancer that most commonly affects young children, with around 80 children being diagnosed in the UK each year. After 18 months of treatment at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, Billy’s parents set up ‘Billy’s House’ in 2009.

This ‘Home from Home’ is managed by ‘Young Lives vs Cancer’ and provides free serviced housing for up to six families at a time. Once more, the facility is located just a stone’s throw away from Nottingham’s Queens Medical Centre, which is one of the leading paediatric cancer treatment facilities in the UK. However, ‘Billy’s House’ is arguably more than a mere place to stay—it’s a community. It’s where parents find solace, children make friends, and families connect, sharing their journeys and dispelling the loneliness accompanying such trials. At Billy’s House, families with a child suffering from a life-threatening illness can find relief from the financial and mental burden while gaining invaluable support from those who intimately understand their struggles. I wish there were more places like this, where families could find the support they need during such trying times.

It’s now been over fifteen years since Billy’s battle with cancer, so Billy has decided to lace up for the London marathon on April 21st with a team of close friends, including Freddie Stone, Harry Tennant, Freddie Lindblom, Archie Smith-Maxwell, Finley Lee and Oli Bashall. Given our collective athletic experience – or the distinct lack thereof, it’s not going to be an easy task. Let’s just say Mo Farah won’t be losing sleep over us. But if you want to see a bunch of underdogs transform into slightly faster underdogs, follow our journey on either Instagram or Strava. Spoiler alert: it won’t be pretty. But hey, it’s for a great cause! 🏃‍♂️💨

Join us in supporting a great cause.  By sponsoring us, your contribution will make a huge difference to the lives of children and young people with cancer.  Whether you donate £5 or £500, you will be making a big impact. Thank you in advance for your kind donations.