It was the start of a fairly devstating time for the whole family. She was diagnosed in March with bowel cancer and decided not to have chemo. She spent a summer doing as much as she could. She came to the island, she saw friends and family. But by autumn she was getting worse. She passed away on 1st December 2010.
A few months later my uncle was also diagnosed with bowel cancer. He did have some chemo but the cancer spread. On 1st December 2012, exactly two years to the day after my grandmother, my uncle died.
During this period I didn't keep up with the running. I'd walked the Race For Life in 2010 while my grandma was still alive and wanted to run it one day, but the fitness didn't support my aspirations.
In February 2012 something else happened that changed all our perspectives. My cousin suffered from a bilateral pulmonary embolism. He was 30 years old. He was young, healthy and fit. He died.
It was one of those moments where you take a long, hard look at life, what you're doing and what you hope to achieve. I decided to join a gym and that, by hook or by crook, I will run the Race for Life (run, not walk) and hopefully raise some pennies for Cancer Research while I'm at it.
Life got in the way, of course. Last summer I managed to tear my ankle ligaments and spent 11 weeks on crutches including one week in plaster. I didn't let it get in my way. Since last October I have been training hard, going out in snow and rain to build up my fitness levels and now I'm finally ready to get out there and do the 5k.
To some people, 5k doesn't seem that far but it is a real mile stone for me. I don't intend to stop there. I've gone from couch potato to someone who resents missing out on a lunchtime run because I have a meeting. Who knows, next year I may be doing the 10k!
I knitted the above ribbon to wear on my shirt when I go out there in two weeks time. I hope to do myself and my relatives proud.
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