I’m deeply touched that my nephew and dear friend Ben – ace Lexulous and card player, with whom I have shared numerous enjoyable games over the years (usually losing) – is runing this race for me and of course for Myeloma UK. What an amazing gesture! We’ll certainly be there Ben to cheer you on, as we were when my son Samuel ran the Exeter half-marathon for Myeloma UK six years back.
It looked very much as though I might be coming to the end of my life earlier this year, with the myeloma having gone rampant, but another drug, pomalidomide, has thus far transformed things over the last few months (so I’m back doing my 10,000 paces a day, walking further at weekends, editing full time, writing my books, and more importantly striving to crush Ben at Lexulous – we can but dream!), and there are still possible experimentlal options out there, which though they may be challenging in terms of treatment, could potentially offer me several years yet, when the current drug inevitably stops working. I am hugely aware each day of the huge debt I owe to the NHS for their astonishing care over these last twelve and a half years, and to people like Ben willing to support resarch into myeloma. Meanwhile, I continue to celebrate every day to the full. Life is good. Seize the moment!
Ben’s Exeter Half Marathon page
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I am running the Exeter Half Marathon for Myeloma UK because my Uncle has lived with Myeloma for over 10 years I’ve never ran anywhere near a half marathon. Even when I was younger I’ve never even managed half that distance but I’ve entered the 2023 Exeter Half-Marathon in honour of my Uncle Nick Fawcett.
Nick is a truly inspirational man. He was diagnosed with myeloma (an incurable cancer of the blood) over 11 years ago and in spite of continuous chemotherapy, changing from one protocol to the next as the drugs stop being effective, and the need for courses of radiotherapy he continues to have the most amazing positive attitude and philosophy on life. In his own words, “If cancer has taught me one thing, it is to live each day, not as if it’s my last, but as if it’s my first.”
So if he can still be upbeat in spite of the pain of cancer and all the side effects of his treatments, the least I can do is endure a few months training and a 13.1mile run to raise money for Myeloma UK so they can continue their great work funding myeloma research to help people like Nick.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
£265
It’s lovely to know that our prayers are answered. God bless you, your family and, of course, Ben.
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts, Kathryn