Thank you for visiting our fundraising page. We'd like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who dug deep and sponsored us - even we can't believe by how much we exceeded our target! This page closes on or about 18 June, so you only have a few more days to donate if you'd like to.
So why are we running? Just over a year ago, our beautiful, vivacious friend Christelle was diagnosed with fairly advanced cervical cancer. She spent the summer battling through a gruelling course of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy and suffered all kinds of setbacks, including a week in intensive care in June when her kidneys failed. But through it all she kept her spirits up and longed for the day that she could be well enough to go home, go shopping, have a romantic dinner with her husband Donald - all the stuff that we take for granted in our daily lives. She and Donald had planned a marriage blessing service in her native South Africa in January 2006 and to be well enough to attend that was one of the goals that kept her going. But somehow for every step forward on the road to recovery, she took two steps backwards and despite her treatment, the cancer was found to have spread to her liver in November. Nine months after she was first diagnosed, Christelle passed away a week before Christmas. She was 30 years old.
**UPDATE**
We came, we saw, we ran. On Sun 4 June we successfully completed our first Race for Life at Mote Park in Maidstone! On the start there was just a mass of women - all ages, shapes, sizes etc etc - you name it. And everyone was wearing their back signs with stories, pictures and names of people who are fighting or have fought cancer. Some very moving ones. Mine and Lesley's both said "Christelle 1975-2005" with a picture of her. While we were waiting for the start, they also asked the tons of people who had blue Race for Life helium balloons to release them and it was actually very affecting to see all these blue balloons floating into the sky, like letting go of loved ones.
Anyway, soon we were off and to our horror we realised that this was not a big flat park like Regents Park but a great big hilly one. However (and here's the astounding bit!) running outside in the fresh air with springy green grass underfoot is... a lot more fun than running on the treadmill! And therefore a lot easier! We were really planning to walk most of it, but you just got such a spring in your step that you WANTED to run. Ended up running when it was flat or downhill and power walking uphill. We could not believe it when they said we had covered 2km already! The last 500m is up a gentle hill and then into the final bit where, just like in a proper marathon, there is a fenced-off corridor that you run along towards the finish line with people standing all along and cheering you - so we SPRINTED along there and did a big finale, crossing the finish line holding hands and yelling like crazy. The amazing thing is how much we enjoyed it (being two self-professed non-runners) and how proud you feel for being part of something really special - all those backsigns really gave one pause for thought and reminded us that while we were there, running in a sunny park, every woman there had a friend or family member who can't do what we take for granted because of cancer. Here is a link to my Flickr photo album of the day if you are interested. Enjoy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cooksister/sets/72157594156411638
As a charity, Cancer Research UK rely overwhelmingly on the success of fundraising events such as Race for Life to continue our life-saving research into the prevention, treatment and cure of all forms of cancer.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Cancer Research UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
Those of you that knew Christelle will understand the importance of the work that is being done.
So please sponsor us now!
Many thanks for your support.
Lesley and Jeanne xx
