#AllForRio - ‍Running Manchester Marathon

Rio’s Story,

In April 2022 Rio was diagnosed with Wilms tumour, a rare type of kidney cancer, at just 3 years old.

Since his diagnosis, Rio has had 33 weeks of chemotherapy, 10 consecutive days of radiotherapy and 4 hours of surgery to remove his right kidney and main tumour.

As Rio approaches the end of his treatment ( 7 more weeks of chemotherapy to go),

I’m going to be running the Manchester Marathon on Sunday 16th April to hopefully raise some funds to support any future treatment he may need.

Whilst we hope and pray the CT and MRI scans after his treatment show him to be cancer free, the high-risk features of Rio’s diagnosis make the cancer more likely to come back. Should he relapse, he won’t have many (if any) options left for treatment in the UK and Rio’s chances of survival will plummet to around 10%.

We may find ourselves in a desperate position where Rio needs to access a clinical trial overseas to try and save his life – and we want to be prepared for this. Rio’s consultant explained a pot of fundraising money would help to fund these treatments so through the #AllForRio fundraising efforts we’re hoping to raise £250,000.

Rio really is an amazing little boy and does everything with that big smile on his face! If he can smile and sing his way through this horrible disease, I can take myself out of my comfort zone and meet this challenge. For those who know me, I love going to the gym and doing classes but running a marathon requires a totally different level of discipline and fitness.

I am committed to the challenge and the 12 week’s training I have until I do the Manchester Marathon.

I have joined a running club Dotty Trotters and I have a run coach from Peak Performance running coaching to give me the best chance to run/walk across that finish line.

Since I went to the #AllForRio fundraising party night on 11th November, I couldn’t stop thinking how I could help this little boy and the spurr’s family with the fundraising. I’d be so grateful for any support you can give, however big or small. I started my intense training for the Marathon on Sunday 16th January 2023.

Roll Manchester Marathon Day on Sunday 16th April 2023

Wish me luck!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Katelyn

#AllForRio