This is hard, not just the running (I'm not the smallest or fittest of lads, so that bit is difficult), but the story is hard to tell.

I'd love to keep this short and snappy and for it to be a nice story but in reality it's not, and for that I'm sorry.

When I first started training for the GNR I thought it would probably be for this hospice, only because mum worked there and I kinda thought I should.  Over a far too short period of time probably became likely then became definitely. She was a Ward Manager in the Mary Aikenhead wing, St Margaret of Scotland Hospice, for about 10 years.  

Mum was diagnosed with lung cancer after investigations into a very minor stroke in mid-April this year. She was determined to fight it and we all new she would fight it as best she could.  The prognosis didn't matter to her, that would be a distraction from the battle. We all rallied around and she told us it would be fine. Told us the same thing she always told her boys, we carry on with life as normal and we'll take what comes to us.

A short while later and just over a week into a two week radiotherapy course mum was uncomfortable and had a bone scan which gave us the news that everyone in this position dreads...two tumours had developed in her spine and this was causing the pain. 
Over that weekend mum was at home, feeling quite unwell, and it was this time we first met Sister Rita Dawson, the fantastic lady in charge of St Margaret of Scotland Hospice. She came to see mum without a second thought and brought with her assistance we had never expected and will always be grateful for. Sister Rita made it absolutely clear that should we need her we were only to call.

The following Tuesday we almost lost Mum to a blood clot on the lung, the A&E staff were great but there was no question where she wanted to go at this horrible, frightening time. So the call was made and off to St Margarets Hospice we all went and from that point on all our lives changed immeasurably.

For three short weeks mum received care the like of which I have never seen. If I was to write down all the acts of kindness, support, compassion and professional excellence that I either experienced myself or witnessed this would be a much longer story. I will tell tales of this place until my dying day. 
So, I won't write them all down but I'll try to sum it up.......

"FAMILY"

Dad, Shaun, Martin and I were treated like family in there. Not just visitors or guests but like family and you know what...so was everyone else who came to visit mum. Nothing was ever too much trouble, Pastoral staff offered prayers, nursing staff expertise and cuddles, even the brilliant restaurant staff fed us three fantastic meals a day, every day, even if we weren't hungry, because mum would tell someone that we hadn't eaten yet!!
I won't name everyone who helped us, I'd be too frightened to dare miss any of those fantastic people out but you all know who you are.

As days became weeks, mum had good days and bad days, I realised something, something that I maybe wasn't supposed to.
Mum wanted to be in St Margarets Hospice, of course she did, she knew the place inside out. She knew that medically she was in the best hands in the field and that her faith would be supported by the great pastoral staff, but she also knew one more thing......
She knew that everyone there would take care of us four, despite how ill she was, she knew that we would be in good hands if she couldn't do it for us. Mum was the patient but she knew we'd need more caring for than she did and we got it. As I said we were treated like family.

On the 28th June 2016 we lost mum, and we will miss her dearly forever.

I never thought or imagined this run to be "in memory of....." part of me thinks it should be, but it doesn't seem quite right.

I'm doing this FOR mum, not in memory of her. Mum and all the amazing people at St Margaret of Scotland Hospice. For everyone that helped her and us, for everyone in the future, that every penny raised here will help to continue to provide the outstanding care and compassion that we received in our time of need.

So there we go....my story, our story and a story that means that if you know me or my fantastic family then hopefully you'll have a few pounds to spare to make a difference and help show our never ending gratitude to this exceptional place.

Thank you for kindness.  Joe