Melissa's Race for Life

I am doing the Race for Life in memory of my gorgeous mum, Ruth. Completely out of the blue, she was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2015 but she took it in her stride with all her family around her and she was so brave when she went through her first rounds of gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After three months of intensive treatment, we got the wonderful news in January 2016 that she was in remission. She was so thankful for the support and care that she had received, that she made it her mission to run the race for life in July 2016 to raise money in the fight against cancer. And she did it! Rufio's Racers were formed and we couldn't have been more proud of her! Unfortunately, our story did not continue to go on and have a happy ending. Less than six months after running the Race for Life, we received the devastating news that the cancer was back and had spread to her liver and eye. Her health deteriorated very quickly and we lost our gorgeous mum in April 2017 at age 61. This horrible disease has changed our family's life forever and my mum never got to see me get married. I've now lost my Mum, Grandad and Aunty Mo to cancer and know so many other wonderful families and friends who have been affected in a similar way. 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime so every single pound you donate makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work. Thank you so much Love you always mum xxx