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I would like to share my story on why i have decided to run the 2016 London Marathon "my first marathon" . I'd be lying if i said i hadn't always wanted to run the marathon as it has always been on 'my bucket list'. The motivation came to apply in May 2015 when my brave Nan sadly passed away after a long battle with cancer. It was then i knew that i wanted to run it sooner rather than later & raise as much money for a cancer charity as i could - for all the brave people whose lives have been affected by this horrible disease. Many of these people are close family & friends.

It was not long after i took the steps to apply that my own world was turned upside down. My Mum, my world & my rock was diagnosed with this horrible disease not long after she had said goodbye to her own Mum & after helping her every step of the way through her battle. Life can be so cruel but I know one thing for sure, my Mums a fighter & one of the strongest people i know so i would like to share a little of her story as well as my own; After numerous tests & illness which kept getting put down to stress over losing her own Mum only a few short months before we were given the devastating news that Mum had a brain tumour. And that they would be operating the very next day. We barely had time to process any of this before she was being taken down to surgery on July 4th 'American Independence Day'. Those who know me will know why I thought of all the days to be operated on this is one of the best! She came out of surgery in true fighter spirit as only my Mum could & we were told is was a success. Thank you Nan! The recovery my Mum made after this major operation was incredible & I have never been prouder. Everyone's spirits were lifted & then we got our next blow of devastating news. The tumour was cancerous & she also had another  in her oesophagus which could not be operated on & would need treatment to be controlled. 

As i write this today my Mum is still continuing with treatment which has taken its toll on her body. She had a successful course of radiation treatment on her head which has given this area the all clear. Just before she was about to start her next course of treatment - chemotherapy the nurse said to my Mum 'Julie, we have to tell you that you will loose your hair with the treatment' unbeknown to the nurse my mum had already lost her hair through the radiotherapy treatment & was wearing a wig. Her reply to the nurse 'It's already gone that girl, this is a wig'. Which sums up my Mums character & humour. And needless to say she was a big hit with all the nurses at Christies. 

As her battle continues & treatment has made her very ill, i begin my own story of running the marathon for her. To make her as proud as she has made me. And to 'kick cancer's butt'.

It's with a very heavy heart my story has now changed; My beautiful mum was taken into hospital on January 10th with a chest infection which turned into pneumonia. My mum had fought all her life suffering with asthma from an early age but this had turned into one fight she just couldn't win. mum sadly passed away on the 20th January. She was so proud that i was raising money for such a important cause and i know she will be with me every step of the way now. I love you mum & miss you so much x x x x 

In the last part of this story i would like to mention i am also running in memory of David McQueen my wife's cousin who sadly lost his battle at the age of 24. I never got to meet David but i have heard so many great things about this incredible young man. And also my Mother in law Ann who has beat cancer twice & Uncle Don who also won his battle!

Thanks again for reading my story, i would like to raise as much money as i can my target being £1500 for this amazing charity 'North West Cancer Research incorporating Clatterbridge Cancer Research'.

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Shaun x