Hi everyone, thank you for taking the time to read about Mum's story and for considering a donation to my chosen Cancer charities.

A personal note from Callum:

In the last few years, both of my parents were diagnosed with cancer. Most recently, in March 2024, I lost my beautiful Mum. Mum was diagnosed with a rare, incurable, late-stage 4 cancer that spread unforgivingly. Seeing Mum fight for her life unequivocally changed the way I think about many things. One of those things is our ability to always keep pushing, no matter the circumstance.

My message is clear these days: Make tomorrow better. Leave it all out there. I want to show my Mum, Dad, friends, family, and anyone reading this post, that when things go south - we can be brave. We always have the ability to take one more step. For as long as Mum was here, she saw me fight for a better tomorrow. When it gets hard during the marathons (which I am certain it will), I will remember how hard my Mum and millions of others have had to fight for their lives, and I will just take one more step. Mum was a warrior in her final days. She absolutely refused to give up. I will never forget seeing the fight.

What I did and what I am doing:

In January 2024, I promised Mum I would run one marathon per month around the world to show her that we are never out of the fight.

We knew there would be obstacles ahead when we started that challenge in January. We did not think the unimaginable would happen so quickly. In early March 2024, just 3 months into the challenge and just 10 months from diagnosis, the heavens gained an angel, and I lost mine. Far sooner than we had thought or ever imagined.

I spent the rest of 2024 ensuring that no matter what happened, I kept that promise. The marathons took me from the deserts of Las Vegas, Nevada, to some of Europe's oldest cities, such as Rome and Berlin (you can read about each of those in the updates section below)

Mum's spirit was always one of believing and fighting until the very end. I completed the 12-in-2024 challenge in the same way. Whatever it took.

Mum's story:

Cancer is cruel. Very cruel. The concept of fairness will never make sense to me now. Mum was diagnosed with a rare, late-stage 4 ALK cancer in mid-2023. The treatments that typically work for the majority of patients, unfortunately, did not work for Mum. The cancer was defiant and moved quickly, eventually impacting the lung, spine, pelvis, lymph glands, and multiple other areas. It was less than 1 year from diagnosis until the end. As mum's fight got harder, the days got tougher.

Despite the diagnosis, Mum still faced every day with a spirit of kindness, love and belief. Mum never stop believing. A real rockstar. During our final days, we spent some beautiful moments together. Mum’s spirit was incredible. I lost my best friend. 

Mum, I love you, more than you will ever know. You are never out of the fight. Wherever you are, that’s where we are and that is where I feel at home. ️️

Thank you everyone.

Love Cal x