Claudette ran in the Bath Half Marathon and she's giving her sponsorship money to the Rarer Cancers Forum.  We're very greatful to Claudette.  Please remember, it's still not too late to support Claudette!!

Claudette writes: "The reason I wish to support RCF is because my step dad (Robert Derrick) has advanced kidney cancer. He had his kidney removed last year, but it had already spread to his knee and femur, so he then had an operation to remove the affected bone with titanium. Although he looks and feels well, in June of this year it emerged the cancer had spread to his lungs and was inoperable. His only hope was to take a drug called Sutent which stops cancer cells growing, but as this drug is not available on the NHS my parents have had to fund the cost of the drug themselves which is in the region of £4,000 per month. The Rarer Cancers Forum have given my parents invaluable advice and support which they feel has now enabled them to have Sutent funded - a decision which was made by the PCT last week.

The Bath Half Marathon is on Sunday 15th March 2009.  This will be my first half marathon so I'm hoping to be able to run it in 2 1/2 hours or thereabouts!  I'm hoping to raise as much money as possible for the RCF to go towards helping others in the same situation as my parents".

January 7th

Claudette writes: "I've started serious training - did an 8 mile run on Saturday, another 6 mile run on Monday, 5 miles this morning and will be doing another 8 miles on Saturday".

February 23rd

Claudette writes: "I've ran every saturday morning with the girls from Sole Sisters (ladies running club) and last Saturday we managed to run 13.3 miles (with the help of jelly babies along the way!).  We are running the same distance this Saturday, and then running 10 miles the week after in readiness for the "big day" the following week."

Claudette's account of the run

"After a delayed start due to traffic congestion we finally got into our appropriate running groups.  My group was the very back group and I was starting off with a couple of girls I run with from Sole Sisters.  We nervously and excitedly listened to the countdown to all the other groups and we all felt a little emotional to say the least!  Finally it was our turn and the clock was already on 15 minutes as we went over the start line.  Within minutes I had lost them because the crowds of runners was unbelievable. It was a beautiful day particularly for spectators - but just a little too hot for runners!  The crowds of spectators/supporters were amazing and to hear my name being called out really kept me going.  I had only ran a few miles when the winner lapped me! But what really kept me going were thoughts in my head of every mile I ran I knew I had raised another £80 for the Rarer Cancers Forum.  When I reached the 11 mile mark I was starting to flag but knew I was nearly there so had a couple of jelly babies to keep me going.  At last I could see the finish and crossing that line was the best feeling ever - yet more tears of course!  The months of training had paid off my completed chip time was 2:06.
 
Running the half marathon was a fantastic experience - I would certainly do it again and like to thank everybody for their support and sponsorship".

Well done, Claudette, and many thanks from Rarer Cancers Forum

Claudette and Robert

Please support Claudette and the Rarer Cancers Forum by donating online.  Alternatively you can send a cheque to: Rarer Cancers Forum, The Great Barn, Godmersham Park, Canterbury, Kent CT4 7DT. 

Please make the cheque payable to Rarer Cancers Forum and mark the back of the cheque 'Claudette Wilson's Bath Half Marathon'.