Mike's Leeds Marathon and Great North Run 2024

My Story

Cancer remains a devastating disease and one that affects so many lives. Treating it is also one of our biggest scientific challenges. As a member of the Cancer Research UK Newcastle Drug Discovery Centre, part of Cancer Research Horizons, we are developing new innovative drugs that will offer more effective and kinder treatments in the future. Our work is critically dependent on CRUK funding and hence on charitable donations. For every £1 that we receive from CRUK, we can leverage a further £2 from the University and our industrial collaborations to fund our research, which is necessary to support the group and wouldn't be possible without the CRUK funding. Our group do our bit towards the fundraising drive as well. As part of this year's efforts, I am running the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon on 12th May. This will be my first attempt at the marathon. One of my reasons for choosing the Leeds Marathon is that the story of Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield and Kevin's mantra of "a run for a mate" is massively inspiring. I have had many friends and family have their lives destroyed by cancer, most significant for me was losing my dad. My mate (and brother-in-law) has been battling colon cancer since 2015. The attitude and inner strength he shows in this fight is amazing. Steve, this is for you mate. If Steve can fight cancer for this long, I can run 26.2 miles, right? Just going to keep telling myself that. If you can spare a few quid for the cause, I'd be most grateful.