Run for my son

Hi, my name is Kate, a 45 year old mum of 2 young adults living in west Cornwall and I have set myself the challenge of running (walking if desperate) 10km a day for every day that my son, Jacob is in hospital receiving stem cell treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma.

In March 2021, not long after his 18th birthday Jacob was diagnosed with cancer. Otherwise fit and healthy Jacob’s only symptom was a dry cough (during Covid!) so this diagnosis came as a devastating shock. He has since then had 2 different chemotherapies, radiotherapy and immunotherapy and is now undertaking up to a month in isolation in hospital having further chemotherapy and stem cell treatment.

I have wanted to do something positive for a while both to show my respect and gratitude to Jacob for his amazing attitude throughout this ordeal and to raise funds for those charities which have provided support throughout.

Jacob’s fortitude, determination to live life as normally as possible and complete lack of self-pity have been an inspiration to me and all of those closest to him over the last year and a half whilst he’s coped with the daily challenges that a cancer diagnosis brings to every aspect of a young person’s life.

Because of the unique challenges faced by anybody and in particular a young person diagnosed with cancer, the specialist care and support provided by various charities is invaluable if not essential and for this reason I want to show my support to the following charities and would be incredibly grateful if you could also. I understand that these are difficult financial times for everybody and will be delighted with the smallest of donations, however, if you cannot donate at this time, thank you for taking the time to read this page and if possible, sharing it with others:

Teenage Cancer Trust – Jacob is incredibly grateful to the specialist nurse who has supported him since his diagnosis and continues to do so, funded wholly by the charity.

Young Lives vs Cancer – A dedicated charity offering support to young people and their families coping with cancer. Jacob has received the support of a social worker based at Treliske hospital.

Tanya’s Courage Trust – A local charity supporting young people fighting cancer in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly and Devon. They have been involved in improving the provision for young people with cancer in Cornwall.

Cancer Research UK – Jacob has received various treatments since diagnosis, one of which was a trial drug with great results which serves to highlight to me how vital the continual funding of research is for the increasing positive outcomes of all cancer patients now and in the future.

Any money raised through this challenge will be shared equally between the above four charities. Thank you