Hello,
My name is Charlotte Moore and I have written this page with the help of my sister Darcey, for when we run Race For Life in June with our auntie Carol Ward (daughter of my Grandad Jim).

Unfortunately cancer has invaded our lives for the past several months, completely turning our worlds very much upside down.
My Granddad Jim and Nanna Pat had been together since the age of 16. The many decades that followed, they remained strong as ever. However around 5 years ago, my Nanna developed Alzheimer's. Her memory and ability to communicate and process the world in a way which we can do dissipated gradually. The whole time, Granddad provided full time care for her, with the majority of the family not being aware of the full extent of Grandma's illness. I have never seen anyone be so patient and strong throughout such a terrible and honestly heartbreaking situation. I can't even imagine what it would be like to watch your the image of someone who was your soul mate disappear before you.
As if the situation couldn't get worse, Granddad was diagnosed with lung cancer halfway through 2016. Initially Granddad persisted in strength. However, as the months went by the cancer eventually spread throughout the rest of his body and we knew there was no chance of him surviving.
The only positive that can come out of this situation was the fact that Granddad stated he had done everything he had ever wished to do in his life. However I would never wish anyone to pass with such pain and suffering. It's cruel.

Sadly, this isn't the first time our family was affected by such trauma. Several years ago, my Grandma Meg (aka Peg) was diagnosed with a brain tumour. My Nanna Peg was one of the bubbliest women I've ever met. Always singing around the house when me and my sister Darcey would go and visit. Her and Grandad Mike (my father's parents) introduced me to my art and encouraged me to pursue it. I will always be grateful for that.

Yet again, cancer did a good job of completely taking the life and happiness out of someone so loved by everyone in our family. I can't stress enough how painful these situations are to deal with for everyone involved and all of us wished to never experience it again. As you know that wasn't the case.

Hopefully the continuous fundraising by charities such as Cancer Research, will eventually find a way to get rid of cancer forever. So many lives are lost to cancer every year and this has to change. Please donate towards such a brilliant cause and support the research needed to achieve our goal. With the statistic of 1 in 2 to be affected by cancer we have to do all that we can now. I don't wish anyone to experience what we as a family have done twice now.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and thank you a thousand times over for anyone who takes the time to donate. Every little bit counts no matter how small the donation is. It only means we are closer to our target of £200.