Wayback in 2004, mum found that she had a non-Hodgkins Lymphoma on her bladder. After chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she recovered fully and got the all clear.
The relief she, the family, and friends felt was beyond words.
The following year I ran my first half marathon to raise money for the Bristol Royal Infirmary, to say "thank you" for saving my mum. Although I didn't come first, I finished, and started on a twenty-year love-affair with running.
Life in Remission
Mum's health was good for about ten years (aside from the tedious business of slowly getting older), she even ran in a Race for Life with her friend, Rose.
We had some of the best Christmases of my adult life in the years following her recovery. She loved games at Christmas and one year bought a small table ping-pong set. She and my husband played together. She loved him very much.
Time had a new meaning, and whilst mum and I both knew that time wasn't endless, we savoured the times we shared like never before. I believe that other friends and family-members felt the same.
Recurrence
Her bladder always remained a problem; most likely, some of the nerves were damaged in the radiotherapy. She went often to the doctor to have her antibiotics changed to combat the frequent water infections.
There were a number of mistakes made at the GP surgery that delayed her getting a referral back to the oncology department.
Dad was her primary carer at this time and struggled everyday with his wife screaming in pain. His heart breaking as the centre of his world fell out.
By the time that referral was made it was too late to offer any treatment beyond pain-management and possibly offering her a few months of extra life.
She said that she wasn't afraid of dying, but she was afraid of pain. She also said the worst thing about this business was having to leave my brother and me behind.
She died on the 27th December 2019. My dad, brother, and I were there.
She wasn't in pain when she died.
That Christmas, the ward she was in was full of other people terminally ill - dying. Each of them with a heartbroken family waiting for the last goodbye.
Life without Mum
Mum had had a good life. She was loved. She'd travelled the world. She'd lived in a beautiful semi-detached house with a beautiful garden. She met with friends most days. She always had time for her family. She always had time for me.
She should have lived longer:
More awareness at the GP practice would have seen her referred for treatment sooner.
We now know that radiotherapy often means a new incidence of cancer ten to fifteen years after the original cancer is cured. Research into cancer can offer improved chances of survival and better long term prognoses.
For these reasons, I am raising money for Cancer Research UK.
Why the Bristol Half Marathon?
My first Half Marathon was the Bristol Half. 2025 will be twenty years since that event when I fundraised in thankfulness. I am still grateful for the treatment mum received back then - fifteen years of extra time is thing worthy of celebrating!
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About us
The South West’s biggest and best running event takes runners on a stunning 10k or half marathon tour of Bristol & it’s most famous landmarks.
It’s a run for everyone, of all ages and abilities – an inclusive celebration of running, with music blazing, crowds buzzing, legs pumping and fists bumping. The city comes alive on the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run weekend.
It’s not all about the adults, the AJ Bell Great Bristol Family Run gives the kids a chance to experience that finish line feeling, earn a special medal & raise money for good causes.
Wayback in 2004, mum found that she had a non-Hodgkins Lymphoma on her bladder. After chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she recovered fully and got the all clear.
The relief she, the family, and friends felt was beyond words.
The following year I ran my first half marathon to raise money for the Bristol Royal Infirmary, to say "thank you" for saving my mum. Although I didn't come first, I finished, and started on a twenty-year love-affair with running.
Life in Remission
Mum's health was good for about ten years (aside from the tedious business of slowly getting older), she even ran in a Race for Life with her friend, Rose.
We had some of the best Christmases of my adult life in the years following her recovery. She loved games at Christmas and one year bought a small table ping-pong set. She and my husband played together. She loved him very much.
Time had a new meaning, and whilst mum and I both knew that time wasn't endless, we savoured the times we shared like never before. I believe that other friends and family-members felt the same.
Recurrence
Her bladder always remained a problem; most likely, some of the nerves were damaged in the radiotherapy. She went often to the doctor to have her antibiotics changed to combat the frequent water infections.
There were a number of mistakes made at the GP surgery that delayed her getting a referral back to the oncology department.
Dad was her primary carer at this time and struggled everyday with his wife screaming in pain. His heart breaking as the centre of his world fell out.
By the time that referral was made it was too late to offer any treatment beyond pain-management and possibly offering her a few months of extra life.
She said that she wasn't afraid of dying, but she was afraid of pain. She also said the worst thing about this business was having to leave my brother and me behind.
She died on the 27th December 2019. My dad, brother, and I were there.
She wasn't in pain when she died.
That Christmas, the ward she was in was full of other people terminally ill - dying. Each of them with a heartbroken family waiting for the last goodbye.
Life without Mum
Mum had had a good life. She was loved. She'd travelled the world. She'd lived in a beautiful semi-detached house with a beautiful garden. She met with friends most days. She always had time for her family. She always had time for me.
She should have lived longer:
More awareness at the GP practice would have seen her referred for treatment sooner.
We now know that radiotherapy often means a new incidence of cancer ten to fifteen years after the original cancer is cured. Research into cancer can offer improved chances of survival and better long term prognoses.
For these reasons, I am raising money for Cancer Research UK.
Why the Bristol Half Marathon?
My first Half Marathon was the Bristol Half. 2025 will be twenty years since that event when I fundraised in thankfulness. I am still grateful for the treatment mum received back then - fifteen years of extra time is thing worthy of celebrating!
---
About us
The South West’s biggest and best running event takes runners on a stunning 10k or half marathon tour of Bristol & it’s most famous landmarks.
It’s a run for everyone, of all ages and abilities – an inclusive celebration of running, with music blazing, crowds buzzing, legs pumping and fists bumping. The city comes alive on the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run weekend.
It’s not all about the adults, the AJ Bell Great Bristol Family Run gives the kids a chance to experience that finish line feeling, earn a special medal & raise money for good causes.
