In memory of Sahar

On 17th March 2021, I lost my aunt (Khaltoe) Sahar to cancer. She was afforded one of the rarest gifts of all – a second chance at life after undergoing Whipple surgery 5 years before to alleviate her body from a first bout of cancer.

 

To say that she grasped that second chance at life would be an understatement – she ripped the packaging off it and threw herself in with the zeal of an enthusiastic child.

 

My Khaltoe was an avid cyclist, having undertaken cross-continent cycles from London to Jerusalem, Beirut to Amman. And that is why I have decided to honour her by running (4 marathons, 4 countries, 4ish months) – an activity she had a slight disdain for and one we discussed numerous times over our post-chemo, post-dinner knitting sessions in the last 6 months of her life.

 

In running I also hope to raise money for two charities close to her heart, split by only 2,400 miles: Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) and Macmillan Cancer Support.

 

Khaltoe received an unmatched level of genuine and personal care from Macmillan for which we will be eternally grateful, and PCRF is a charity in desperate need to expand their care to child cancer patients in Gaza; which resonated with Khaltoe as she treasured the care she received and dreamt of a similar system to reach the children of Gaza.

 

I was privileged to spend those final months and weeks by her side, to witness the demanding peaks and troughs of her treatment and her always inscrutable strength.

 

Khaltoe loved to sing, to dance, to read poetry; and she especially loved to cause a nuisance (both during her life and regrettably she’s found some ways to prolong that skill into her death). And I adored her.

Please note: all donations will be split 50:50 between the two chosen charities - Macmillan Cancer Support (UK registered charity: 261017, https://www.macmillan.org.uk/), Palestine Children's Relief Fund (US registered charity EIN: 93-1057665, https://www.pcrf.net/)

The plan - 4 marathons, 4 countries, 4(ish) months