Our Marathon Mission

For so many UK families 2020 has been, to say the least, a pretty traumatic year. Whether it has been via health, job or education the COVID pandemic must have touched almost every family. Our family has been no exception. Earlier in the year, Roger (Steph's Dad & John's brother), was diagnosed with cancer. Not just one cancer but two, separate cancers, Prostate and Bowel. The diagnosis for a rare form of Bowel Cancer took several months and arrived at the beginning of lockdown. Although the cancer was deemed incurable, the COVID pandemic made it advisable to delay treatment for six weeks. Probably like every other family that has been affected by this terrible disease, it has been a massive shock; fear, anger, frustration, helplessness - we’ve felt it all. Despite this, we have tried to remain positive; Roger is fighting so hard and we’re in awe of his strength. Having been confronted with this news, we also felt determined to ‘help, specifically, raising money to assist the fantastic research projects supported by CRUK. Initially we had ambitious plans for large fundraising events but the uncertainty about planning anything this year forced us to delay much of what we planned.....yet another frustration. In the longer term we still aim to raise £25,000 for CRUK (80%) and the Cancer Fund at the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund (20%) registered charity number 1056479 (where Roger is being treated) but in a series of smaller events rather than the grand gestures we planned originally. And this is where the "Virtual Marathon" promoted by the Virgin Money London Marathon comes in. In early August the news came through that the London Marathon was cancelled for 2020. The impact of the cancellation on charities all over the country would be significant which is why the organisers came up with the idea of the "Virtual Marathon". Steph already had a place in the London Marathon for 2020 before the COVID crisis hit which meant that we automatically qualified for a place in the "Virtual Marathon". On October 4th, participants in the "Virtual Marathon" can run/walk the 26.2 miles on a route of their choosing without compromising the social distancing rules. Bear in mind, we haven’t trained properly, (unless baking counts!!) and despite running being in our blood, the distance exceeds anything we have ever done before. Needless to say, it’s gonna be a massive challenge, but one we’re both determined to achieve. We will be running/walking/staggering our way around the 26.2 miles from John's home in Lindfield, West Sussex with a few friends and other members of our family providing support. If you think you can help us by contributing something, no matter the amount, in our efforts to raise money together for CRUK and the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund, it would be so, so greatly appreciated.