My Activity Tracking
82
kms
My target 100 kms
My beautiful Mum in her pink woolie hat
For the third consecutive year I'm running the Cancer Research UK London Winter Run 2025 for Cancer Research UK.
This year will be a very different race for me as my beautiful mum died from lung cancer in May 2024.
Mum's cancer journey was swift. She was great at telling everyone she was ok, and left it too late to get an early diagnosis which may have saved her life.
On Good Friday mum was admitted to hospital with shortness of breath, the x-ray revealed a mass and fluid in her lung. On Easter Sunday the consultant asked mum lots of questions such as, have you lost weight recently, do you have any pain in your chest, back or shoulders, have you ever smoked?
Mum stopped smoking 25 years ago when she was diagnosed with COPD. She had lost weight, lost interested in food, drink, going out. She had pain in her back and put it down to her bra, so dad took the wires out, put it down to mattress, so dad changed the mattress, put it down to her chair, so dad revamped it.
The consultant listened to mum's answers and said gently to her, crouched down so he was level with her in the chair next to the hospital bed. "I suspect you have lung cancer".
The next few weeks were a waiting game. Waiting for the biopsy and lung drain to happen, then more waiting for the results.
On Friday 3 May we headed back to the consultant for the outcome of the tests. Yes, as he suspected, mum had advanced lung cancer. He offered mum pre-hab to get her well enough for chemotherapy that would help prolong her life, but not save it.
He asked, do you have any questions... "Can I still go on holiday in June?"
We were offered literature and help from the Roy Castle Foundation and mum had to wait for yet another appointment to redrain the lung.
Mum died a few days later on 8 May.
The picture is of mum, dad and me in Trafalgar Square on 5 February 2023, my first Winter Run. My Cheer Squad! It was a beautiful day with a clear blue sky and crisp winter air. Mum forgot her hat so had to buy one from a stall holder near the start line.
Mum didn't come to cheer me on in February 2024, she was too unwell, the cold made her breathing more difficult, "it was the COPD" she told us all.
I'll be wearing mum's pink hat this year. I hope the day is a bright and crips as my first run. And I'll be thinking of mum all the way round... no personal bests this year, just to get round is enough.
Please donate to my page to help me raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK and support me as I train another Winter Run on 23rd February 2025.
Nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in their lifetime*. All of us can support the research that will beat it.
Thank you for supporting me! Together we are beating cancer.
*cruk.org/lifetimerisk
My Achievements
Thank you to my supporters
£56.18
Ray And Laura
£56.18
Carol Butler
Smash it Sarah, your mum will be so proud x
£56.18
Robin Hall
Well done
£56.18
Chris G
Happy to help out, great cause
£53
Nicola Wilkinson
Good luck Sarah - such a great charity close to my heart to x
£50
Doylie
You’re the best Drucie. Good Luck 🤩🥳
£50
Andy Bradshaw
£42.40
Matt Flukes
You’ve got this x x
£31.80
Yvonne Skipsey
You’ll smash it Sarah, your Mum will be with you all the way 💕
£31.80
Drucie
Go me!
£26.50
Samantha Lewis
Have a great run, Sarah!!! Sam x
£26.50
Julie Bonner
Good luck Sarah! I’m sure you will smash your target and do your Mum proud xxx
£21.20
Lesley Evans
Sarah, your mum's diagnosis has brought it all back to me as it was a mirror image of my dad's many years ago and it never leaves you. Good luck with your run, I am sure your mum will be beside you with every step xxx
£21.20
Karen Sykes
Sure you'll smash it Sarah with your mum supporting you all the way x
£21.20
Mf
Thank you for sharing your story Sarah and wishing you all the best on the day x
£21.20
Donna Schooling
Go for it Sarah... been through the same with dad and it's sh1t!!
£20
Angela Sadler
Good Luck Sarah, this is a cause incredibly close to both our hearts - thank you.
£20
Catrina
£20
Vicki Hurley
£20
Fiona Faure
Good luck for the run Sarah! A lovely tribute to your beautiful mum. Fiona x
£20
Jayne Toole
Best of luck Sarah xx
£12.72
Debs & George
£12.72
Katherine Farrow
Much love to the Druce clan x
£12.72
Megan
£12.72
Agata Trebacz
£12.72
Anna Davies
£12.72
Andrea Lane
Go Sarah!!!
£12
David Wallace
Good luck Sarah, go and smash it.
£12
Hannah Markham
Best of luck Sarah, Hannah xx
£10.60
Sarah Hodder
A great cause close to my heart. Very happy to donate. Welldone Sarah!
£10.60
Katherine Mendes
Good luck with the race. Will be thinking of you. Katherine
£10.60
Clare Garth
Your story moved me to tears, Sarah - not that you didn’t do already, but you will do your mum proud xx xx
£10.60
Cathy Daly
Good luck Sarah.
£10.60
Audrey Clark
Good luck Sarah - your Mum will be with you every step of the way xx
£10.60
Ewa Ruda
£10.60
Claire Evans
Good Luck Sarah - a great cause
£10.60
Claire Golding
Good Luck and enjoy the day
£10.60
Catherine Rowley
Good luck Sarah - such a good cause
£10.60
Sarah Dawson
Good Luck Sarah
£10.60
Angelina Reynolds
Good luck Sarah - such a worthy cause - Angelina
£10.60
Charlotte Turner
A great cause to fundraise for - hope it all goes well!
£10.60
Sue Harris-simms
Good luck!
£10.60
Emma Clark
£10
Rupert Harris
Good luck
£10
Ruth Foxton
Sorry to hear about mum and well done for supporting this cause Ruthy xxx
£10
Rebecca Fairclough
Sarah - you will smash it!! x
£10
Janet Sutton
Thinking of you Sarah - your Mum will be very proud of you. Your Mum and her pink hat will be with you along the way xxx Jan
£10
Zara Neil
What an amazing cause and such a touching story. I know how difficult this year has been for you, but I am certain your mum would be very proud of you. Good luck Sarah, I'll be thinking of you!
£5.30
Lorraine Maynard
Good luck!
£5.30
Deborah Cole
£5.30
Ceri Harrington
Go girl, love you 😍
£5.30
Elizabeth Blakemore
Good luck Sarah. I'm sure you'll do your mum proud and she'll be there with you in your heart xx
£2.12
Cheryl Grace
Your Mum will help you smash it Sarah, well done, such a worthy cause :-)
Good luck, Sarah. A great tribute to your lovely Mum xx