My Story

I am running the Great North Run 2023 in support of St Oswald's Hospice to raise money as a gesture of my gratitude to them for the care that they gave to my mum, Ila, in the last few weeks of her life after an almost 5 year battle with ovarian cancer and she passed away peacefully surrounded by all of us on 6 October 2022. The time we spent at the hospice was so special and it meant so much to be able to have a private space in such beautiful surroundings to be together as a family.

Shortly after I signed up to run the GNR, my Auntie Jill ("AJ"), my Mum's youngest sister, went into hospital for preventative surgery in March 2023 having learned she had the BRCA2 gene which increases risk of breast and ovarian cancer.  Unfortunately, the cancer was already progressing and she was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer and more surgery was needed. AJ never recovered from the surgery and we lost her on 6 April 2023, 6 months to the day after losing my Mum and two weeks before AJ's 63rd birthday.

I am nowhere near physically or mentally ready for this run, my training and definitely my fundraising have taken a backseat whilst I and my family come to terms with our loss.

However, both Mum and AJ went through so much and didn't give up that I can't let them down. I'm steeling myself for a demanding day both physically and emotionally and knowing that I am raising money in memory of two of the best and most amazing women in my life and for a really special charity will keep me going to that finish line. 

I am grateful for every penny or pound you can spare and I will do my best on the day to earn it and support St Oswald's and make my much missed Mum and AJ proud.