Race For Life 5k Run for Michele Rodford

For those of you who know me well, you know I do not run or indeed really exercise, however on 30th June 2019 me and Katie Owen are dusting off our running shoes and are running (maybe staggering) in the Blackheath 5k Race for Life.   Why we are doing this is to raise much needed funds to aid the treatment of our beautiful, brave friend Michele Rodford, who is is fighting the biggest battle of her life.   Please could you therefore spare any pennies you may have to sponsor us. 

Michele's story is below, please take a moment to read the journey she is on.  We are hoping to raise £100,000 for her treatment, all sponsorship money raised by us will be paid in to her fund once we have completed the race.

Many thanks

Sam and Katie
 

We are raising money for our beautiful friend Michele and her brave son Luke-Keston. In September 2016, Michele was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. She had a mastectomy, followed by another four surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Michele means the world to us, she is not just our friend, she is our family.

However, on 25 March 2019 Michele was given the devastating news that the cancer had not only returned but has also metastasised to her bones and lymph nodes. This news has floored us all, we are all in utter shock and heartbroken. Michele has been told that she cannot be cured but can only be offered treatment to prolong her life. Despite this, Michele in her usual style is handling this news with such dignity, strength and determination.

For those who know Michele, whilst enduring her breast cancer treatment in 2017, she worked endlessly to raise funds for The Empress Breast Care Unit at the Darent Valley Hospital. Not only did her son shave her hair off for the unit, she ran the Bath Half Marathon whilst on chemotherapy and got a team together to do the London to Brighton walk (100k) without sleep. Currently her prognosis is very poor, so we are fighting this and hoping to raise as much money as we can to give her as many options as possible for alternative treatments.

Michele is desperately seeking as many options as possible as this shattering news has turned her whole world upside down. Michele and Luke have such a strong bond between them. Luke is the kindest, most thoughtful, caring, beautiful soul which is a massive reflection on how Michele has brought him up. Luke has had to deal with several traumatic events throughout his short life, not only Michele’s first breast cancer diagnosis but also having to deal with the fact his Dad was injured in Afghanistan losing his leg and sight in his right eye, so now to be told that Michele’s advanced breast cancer is incurable is devastating for anyone let alone a 13 year old boy.

Michele is looking at alternative treatments but the treatment is expensive. To give you an idea, the immunotherapy she needs will cost her £5,000 a month for the rest of her life. An alternative cancer centre will cost £35,000 for a 3-week treatment plan which she may need several times. All of these options come at such a huge cost and this is where we need your help.

Michele is overwhelmed by the lovely messages offering her help and support, there are so many people behind her, so let’s all get together now for our beautiful friend and her brave son Luke-Keston.