Sammy's London Marathon for Cancer Research UK

I’m running the London Marathon in April 2023 to raise £2500 for Cancer Research UK - to make treatments kinder, more effective and bring forward the day when all cancers are cured

My Story

I'm raising money for Cancer Research UK and have signed up to take on a pretty crazy challenge - the London Marathon!!! My goal is to raise £2500 so that treatments can keep getting kinder and more people can survive cancer and live happy healthy lives with their loved ones. Running THE London marathon is a big dream but also very scary for me - honestly the thought of running 26.2 miles (that's 42km!) is terrifying! But also so exciting that it’ll be through the incredible landmarks. But… it's going to take me at least 4 and half hours - probably a little longer - imagine!! Running for that long! Scary scary scary. But to try and raise over £2000, it needed to be a very big challenge didn't it! I've been working up to this for over 10 years so if you've noticed that I do a lot of running - now you know why! While I enjoy running I don't really find it easy, and get injuries quite often (shin splints especially!) so there's a lot of very careful training and commitment to go before marathon day and quite likely some setbacks to come over the next few months, so it could be an interesting journey to follow and it would mean so much to have you on it with me. Cancer takes our friends and family away too soon, and to be diagnosed with it must be unimaginably hard - but it will happen to half of us. During the hours and hours out on the road I'll be thinking of Matt Marchant (Shaggy, 1988-2019), Dave Barton (Uncle Dave, 1945-2014), Belinda Smith (Nanny, 1930-2011), Eileen Barton (Auntie Eileen, 1939-2009), Ruth Clooney (Nanna, 1941-1998), Dave Brough (Uncle Dave), Uncle Pete and Alec Smith (Grandad, but we didn’t get to meet). And I'll also be thinking about the inspirational people I know who are survivors! There are so many great causes to support when it comes to cancer, but having volunteered for Cancer Research UK for 12 years I know how much the pandemic impacted their funding and the work that could be done, and how important this fundraising will be for the scientists and research centres to find new and kinder ways to beat cancer - so treatments don't cause so much pain as they did in the past and make people as poorly as they still do, and so the chances of making a full recovery get better and better. As a volunteer, I've hosted the stage at the Race For Life and seen so many magical and moving moments there. I've watched a toddler release a balloon with a picture of a man and the word "Daddy" into the sky. I've stood with a family searching the horizon for their loved one, who was taking part whilst having cancer themselves, and walked together with them all for the last leg before quietly stepping back as they shared a long hug at the finish line. I've seen four teenage girls, with a picture of another same-aged girl on their t-shirts, standing in a line with their arms around each other's shoulders and tears on their cheeks, and imagined that she might have been there hugging them and missing them. And on a couple of occasions when I've been standing on the stage leading a minute's silence in front of hundreds of people, I've had to stand bravely because it was only a few weeks after I'd lost a friend and a family member too. Memories and admiration of how they stayed so positive will keep me company on the miles and miles of training ahead, but this fundraising is about making a difference for us all, now and in the future. Right now cancer is affecting people from all backgrounds, which is why I’m raising money for Cancer Research UK. I know times are especially hard but if you can, please donate to my page today and help bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.