My Story

In August 2020 we got “that call”, from my dad to tell us that my brother-in-law, Ste, had been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. 

Over the months, as Ste became progressively more ill and was taken into hospital, although Ste had initially hoped to stay at home he agreed to be transferred to the Marie Curie Bradford Hospice for some palliative care and they were overwhelmed with the support that they received. 

As the end neared, the nursing staff did everything humanly possible, within the scope of what was allowed during Covid times, for him to see family from his room that opened on to the garden and made sure that my nephew, Lewis, niece, Olivia, and my sister, Emily, could spend as much time as possible with him - building precious last memories, watching one last England football match together, and eventually when the time came, could hold his hand and say goodbye with dignity and without pain. He died in June 2021 aged just 37.

But even then, the support from Marie Curie didn’t end and they continued to support Emily, Lewis and Olivia through the toughest of times, giving them space to talk, providing counselling for them and helping them grieve in their own time and in their own way - allowing them to heal. The support they received from Marie Curie has been a huge contribution to how well they are all now doing, and as a family we will be forever grateful.
Since then, our family has continued to support Marie Curie including sponsoring and cheering on our cousin Sarah, a cancer survivor herself, who has run the London Marathon twice now to raise funds. 

And so now it’s my turn…!  

I am not a big runner by any stretch but having been inspired by watching Sarah run the marathon in previous years, and with 2026 marking five years since we lost Ste, I have also taken on the challenge of running the London Marathon for Marie Curie. 

In doing this I would love to raise as much money as I possibly can - both in honour of Ste (who be in no doubt will be looking down laughing at me for even thinking of doing this) but equally importantly to support other patients and their families going through similar pain, so any donations at all that you can spare to support such an amazing cause would be gratefully received.