Amy's Race for Life

My life has always been touched by cancer in some way. I’ve always known of someone who is living through cancer either because they’ve been someone I know and love or the people I knows loved ones have been affected. Each time it’s always got a little closer to home. 6 years ago one of my really good friends was diagnosed with all kinds of things. After long drawn out investigations, treatments and a lot of time in hospital, we were planning holidays for once she was finally better. This was just before she was eventually diagnosed with cancer and given 2 weeks to live - and she didn’t even get that. Almost 4 years ago my Dad was diagnosed with throat cancer - they caught it early, he seemingly breezed through 3 weeks of intense radiotherapy and came to my graduation right in the middle of it - where he finds his strength I’ll never know. He’s been given the all clear ever since. Then last summer, almost a year now, he started feeling really unwell. This went on for weeks with no paramedic or doctor able to identify what was going on. Until he hit an all time low, got rushed into hospital and within hours was diagnosed with leukaemia. My Dad has AML, he’s had 5 cycles of chemotherapy, countless infections along the way and is awaiting a stem cell transplant. This one has hit him hard. But I cannot fault the NHS for their effective response time, thorough treatment and ongoing support for both him and my Mum, who of course is going through this almost as much as my Dad is. I won’t lose anyone else to this awful disease, least of all my Dad, despite the arduous months of treatment, while he understandably has down days he’s still in amazing spirits and both him and my Mum are so strong - it’s inspiring. So to keep up the excellent work the NHS are doing in early diagnosis, incredible treatment and support, I am fundraising for Cancer Research UK so they can continue to fund the research that makes cancer services what they are today. Thanks to the pandemic, Cancer Research has been heavily impacted and without adequate funds, runs the risk of not progressing forward with the life saving diagnosis and treatment that has saved so many people. I know times are hard but if you can give even a little, it’s a little more than they had yesterday ❤️