Hi,

In 2024, my friend and colleague Conrad’s world changed. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer and needed major surgery. What many of you may not know is that, while Conrad was facing his own frightening battle, his brother Jason — over in Canada with their mum and sister — was undergoing surgery the day before him.

Jason had to have a kidney removed due to a massive tumour. He has since been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and is fighting his own battle.

While trying to cope with his brother’s diagnosis from afar, Conrad then suffered his own life‑threatening complications. Many of you will know he almost didn’t make it after he developed severe sepsis following his first operation. When he finally started to recover, he discovered another concerning lump… which meant more waiting lists, more surgery, and yet another infected wound.

Conrad gets up every day, puts on a brave face, and keeps going. But he still has a long journey ahead, with more surgery required.

And through it all, he hasn’t seen Jason in 13 years.

Jason is too unwell to travel, and the cost of Conrad getting to Canada with Donna is simply overwhelming — flights, accommodation, travel insurance, and arranging care for his beloved dog, Dexx.

Conrad is a diamond. One of the kindest, most decent souls you could ever hope to know. I’d like to help him get to Canada.

If you can spare a couple of pounds, it will all help to make a Canada journey more possible.

I’m not asking you to dig deep without me suffering a bit first — so I’ve decided to take on my first ever ultra run: a 90km slog from North Queensferry to St Andrews along the Fife Pilgrim Way. I’m terrified, my feet are in tatters already but hopefully they will get me through the rest of the training and the event before giving up completely. I also managed to gain a few more scars by falling on my face on a training run, so this has not exactly been a plain sailing journey. But it is nothing like what Conrad, and many others like him, have endured, so my motto is, just get it done. It's an organised event on 2nd May 2026 and I had hoped by this point of the training I'd feel more confident, but I'm actually getting increasingly terrified.

Anyone kind enough to donate can choose a song for my Pilgrim Playlist to keep me going along the way.

Thanks so much ❤️

Laura