My Story
After a year where vital cancer trials have been delayed, the Race for Life is more important than ever. That's why I'll be taking part in the Race for Life at Home. Every pound you can donate will go towards Cancer Research UK’s ground-breaking work, so please sponsor me today! I'm doing this for two people in particular: Alan McLeod and Trish Kemsley. There are many others I know, or have known, who have been blighted by cancer. Some are still with us but others sadly lost their brave fight. Alan was my ex-husband but remained a very close friend. He was the absolute best step dad to my two children and even after we separated we both stayed close to our respective step families. Alan died from lung cancer exactly a year ago. I was fortunate to be with him at the end and will be eternally grateful to his family for allowing me that privilege. He was a huge part of so many people's lives and will be remember with love and respect by all. Trish is a work colleague that I've only known for the short time I've worked with Grampian Housing Association but who very quickly made a huge impact. Trish is one of those unique people who has a true gift of making you feel special, but she is the special one. As Covid took hold of the world, cancer took hold of Trish. She is still fighting. She is one of the most positive, funniest, determined, inspirational people I have known. The updates and messages Trish sends leave me laughing out loud one minute and bawling my eyes out the next. The recent loss of her husband just adds more poignancy to the unfairness of Trish's situation. So for Alan and Trish I am running the 5k Race for Life on 25th April. Many will know me as being a runner and wonder why 'just' 5k? Well I've been dogged by recurring injury for the past 4 years and had to stop running completely for a while. I've started and been forced to stop on numerous occasions and even had to train myself to NOT time my runs, run slowly and for short distances, and don't push it....everything that goes against my inbuilt competitive instinct and the need to do my best. Alan has gone, Trish is still fighting for her life, and the least I can do is run a few kilometres to raise money for cancer research and hope that one day there will be a cure for this unforgiving horrendous disease. If you’d like to join the Race for Life at Home community, then sign up at raceforlife.org/race-for-life-at-home.
