Running the NYC Marathon for Jon

Earlier this year I decided I would run (try) the NYC marathon! As well as being a personal challenge for myself, there was a clear objective in mind: raising money for my dear friend Jon.

At the time, Jon was battling a rare cancer called Thymic Carcinoma, and was undergoing incredibly expensive treatment in NYC - all proceeds raised were to go towards his treatment.

Heartbreakingly, Jon passed in July leaving behind his wife Susie, two kids Ray & Remy, as well as a huge family and network of friends who loved him tremendously.

Jon loved the idea I was running the marathon, and up until a few weeks before his passing was sending me messages telling me to get training, and to get a gofund me page set up. So I got training, and here is the gofund me.

I have linked up with Fred’s Team, the official running programme of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), the hospital Jon was treated at in NYC. I'm pleased to say we have already raised $3.5k for their charity - 100% of those funds go directly into MSK labs and lifesaving cancer treatment. Any amount we can now raise on this page will go directly to Jon’s family, specifically with the future of Ray and Remy in mind.

As another little branch to this story - Jon ran the NYC marathon himself in 2008. That same year his wife Susie also ran the NYC marathon. Being friends with both Jon and Susie, I connected the two of them to train together - and the rest is history! So there is a lot of meaning in running these specific miles.

Cancer sucks, and sadly almost all of us have been affected by it in some capacity. I will be thinking of Jon as I run. I will also be thinking of my father-in-law David, my friend Paul, Norman (aka Info-Man), my Grandparents Jerry & Vera. They’ll all be pushing me through - as will your donations, and knowing that the money we can raise will be supporting the legacy of Jon.

Thank you!