About

I am doing this because I am a Dad, because I believe it is up to those that can to do but most of all because of what I saw recently at my Uncle Tony's funeral. I can't pretend that my wider family circle is particularly close any more. It is always lovely to see them but contact isn't regular. Uncle Tony passed away last year and his funeral was held at Shrewsbury Crematorium in late October. It was there that I got to speak to my cousin Sally and her husband Steve. I'd not really seen them for some years but what had happened in between was awful. Not even 3 months had passed since they said goodbye to their 7 year old son Harry who had died from the rarest Double Hit Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Poignantly Sally and Steve said goodbye to him at the same crematorium with many of the same people surrounding them. 7. My son is 7. What I saw was 2 parents clearly and understandably putting on the bravest of faces and doing what they were doing, where they were doing it and doing it for others. I'm not sure I am that brave. I knew they had set up a trust in Harrys name and as soon as I spent time reading and discussing what they are doing I also knew it is up to me to do a very small part to help them. The aim of the Trust is to support children with similar illnesses and Sally and Steve's focus, still, is on others. They are raising money to provide Hampers, Holidays, Hugs, Pillows and Fun for children that sadly find themselves in the same situation as Harry. These are gifts and gestures very much inspired by their own experiences. I would like to raise £500 (minimum) to help. I am going to run the Shrewsbury Half Marathon on June 21st. Now this is not a gimmick or a dramatic gesture but I have recently suffered a torn calf muscle and have only just got back into proper training after nearly 3 months of little or no running. I have clearly substituted exercise with eating so not only is my aerobic capacity reduced but it has to lug around extra ballast..... I would still like to cross the line in a respectable time flying the flag for Harry's Trust. The more I raise the more I will push. It has to be worth at least £10 to see a middle aged man fall over the line in a heap? Please help. Andrew.