My Story

Some of you may remember that last year Garry and I took on the Cambridge Half Marathon together. At the time, I was three and a half stone heavier, absolutely not built for distance running, and very quickly learned why people train properly for these things. Despite the struggle, the experience — and the incredible generosity shown, with over £6,000 raised by Garry, my wife, and my eldest son and daughter — left a real mark on me. They all took part to raise money for ACT as a thank you for the support our families have received over the years, and I’m proud to say the running bug stuck.

With that in mind, and in a moment of what can only be described as optimistic madness, I’ve signed up again for the 2026 Cambridge Half Marathon on 8th March. This time it’s not only a personal challenge, but also a chance to see how far I’ve come over the past year — and more importantly, to raise money for a charity incredibly close to our hearts.

For those who don’t know the background: my motivation for running began with a young lady who has shown extraordinary resilience. In 2017, at just 11 years old, she was diagnosed with leukaemia and began two and a half years of treatment at Addenbrooke’s. Their care was exceptional. In 2018, my own 10‑year‑old son received the same diagnosis. Our families suddenly found ourselves walking the same difficult path, supported by the same remarkable medical teams. Then, in 2019, another child from our village — my son’s friend — was diagnosed with Non‑Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Three children, from the same small community, all fighting cancer at the same time.

By 2019, 2020 and 2021 all three children had completed treatment and been given the all‑clear. We remain deeply grateful for the lifesaving care they received.

However, in 2024, after five years in remission, Garry’s daughter sadly relapsed. She underwent extensive treatment for a second time, facing a challenge no young person should ever have to face once, let alone twice. Her strength, courage, and determination throughout have been nothing short of remarkable, and I’m incredibly proud to say she has now successfully fought off cancer for the second time in her young life. She remains the inspiration behind this challenge, and the reason I am committed to raising as much as possible for ACT, who have supported her and so many others every step of the way.

So although I may once again question my life choices somewhere around mile nine, I’m proud to be taking this on. If anyone feels able to support the cause, any donation — large or small — would be massively appreciated. It genuinely makes a difference, not just to this family, but to so many others who rely on Addenbrooke’s world‑class care.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you to everyone who supported us last year. Your kindness and generosity mean more than you know.