My Story

2021….I’m never doing that again….
2025….that’s it, no more….

2026…..Oooops I’ve done it again. Well they say good things come in threes! Prepare to witness the slowest trilogy in history as I once again “run” the TCS London Marathon! However….this time I won’t be tackling it alone! My wife Jo is taking on the challenge with me for her first ever marathon attempt!

And we are doing so to raise money for such an amazing cause. Marie Curie are a charity that perhaps you may not have heard of before. Every five minutes someone dies without the care they need. Marie Curie provides a better end of life for more people, whatever the illness. From emotional support, practical and clinical information via their helplines to providing nurses and healthcare professionals to provide expert hospice care in at home. Marie Curies goal is help people provide comfort, dignity and supported end of life care for their loved ones. They are there for anyone living with any illness they’re likely to die from, and those close to them. They provide free palliative and end of life care, information and support. On top of all that, they campaign for more people to have a better end of life and fund palliative care research.

The reason why this charity means so much to Jo and I is that we have experienced firsthand providing palliative care for a loved one. Jo’s mum, Linda, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in August 2024. As a 3 time cancer survivor already, she was well prepared to finally receive the news that this time he cancer was uncurable. Over the 12 months, we did what we could to support Linda. From taking her to treatments and reviews to throwing parties to celebrate her life with her friends and family. In early August 2025, we reached the point where treatment was stopped and palliative care started. Linda’s wish was to be at home when she passed away. For the weeks that followed, we managed to provide virtually all the care she required to keep her comfy and settled in the place she loved….her home. As the days progressed and she got weaker, the strain on us increased both physically and emotionally draining us. However, this was a short-term sacrifice for us as long as it allowed Linda to stay at home. After a brave fight right to the end, Linda passed away on September 5^th in her bed, in the sanctuary of her bedroom, listening to her favorite music and surrounded by her loved ones.

Due to geographical reasons, unfortunately Marie Curie were unable to provide physical care to Linda. However the advice and guidance they were able to give us was fantastic and just knowing we had someone at the end of the phone was in itself a relief.
So it is Jo and mine’s mission to raise as much money as possible for this amazing charity. Having been through providing intensive end of life care at home, we don’t want anyone to have to feel they are alone if they find themselves in a similar situation. We want Marie Curie to have as much funding as they can, so that they can cover as much as the UK as possible to allow people to give their loved ones the care, dignity and comfort they deserve when faced with end of life care at home.

So this is for Linda. The bravest woman I have ever known.

Linda Cook
04/08/1953 – 05/09/2025