My Partner, Sarah, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. I had lost my great nan and nan to the disease. Sarah was a supporter of Breakthrough and we were having a chat one day as she sat there with no hair, but still a smile. I rang the Breakthrough Running Team, asking for a place in the 2011 London Marathon. I applied for 2011 via a ballot place too and started training (well 200 yards and a sit down) I also kept a blog www.runningdrums.blogspot.com During the following months I built up a Facebook Group, joined the CAN team at Breakthrough and got myself into al kinds of pink mischief. Radio interviews, TV, charity gigs and started social media networking like mad. Via Facebook I met a lady, Hayley Mitchell, 27 she had advanced breast cancer, who, with her husband of less than a year, Lee, became great friends with Sarah and I.
After winning the ballot place for 2011, I decided to dedicate the last mile of the 2011 London Marathon to Hayley. At a very tearful Mile 25 cheering point, Hayley pulled herself out of her wheelchair to hand me a flag containing names of friends touched by cancer. I made off down the Embankment and a mile later I completed my first marathon.
On 31 August this year Hayley lost her battle and passed away peacefully in her sleep. As I stood saying a few words at her funeral I was thinking about the 12,000 other funerals that will take place over the next 12 months because of breast cancer. This is one reason I support Breakthrough. Their vision of a world "free from the fear of breast cancer" suits me just fine. Sarah is doing great. Her hair has grown back and advances are being made in the fight against breast cancer continually. I believe that Breakthrough is at the forefront of this battle.
I chose the London Marathon again this year but I haven't run anything more strenuous than a bath since April! Here we go again!
