A grandmother from Great Sutton and her son are running this year’s London Marathon in aid of Clic Sargent, the children’s cancer charity.
Wendy Griffiths and her son Luke Hughes decided to run this year’s race after Luke’s son Jacob was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Rhabdomyasarcoma at the age of five months in early March 2013.
Luke, who has another son Harry, two, said about their challenge: “When Jacob was diagnosed it was obviously heartbreaking and devastating to my family and me.
“Clic Sargent has been there to help us through this very difficult time.
“We would like to give something back to Clic by raising money that will help other families and make things a little easier for them having to deal with their children having cancer.
“I cannot thank Clic Sargent enough for the last several months during my stays at Paul's House in London.
“We will hopefully, through determination, lots of training and fundraising be able to give something back to this wonderful charity.”
Jacob has been receiving treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) since he was diagnosed and continues to do so.
In January this year, after months of chemotherapy and an operation to remove Jacob's bladder and prostate followed by radiotherapy, Luke was finally given the news that no further cancer cells could be seen, almost 10 months to that day that Jacob was diagnosed.
Luke said: “There isn't one word or even a sentence that could describe our elation that day.”
“He has remained happy, strong and is a true little fighter. His smile lightens up a room and now at the age of one he is becoming his own little character.
“He has been through so much in his first year of life and it is joyful to see him becoming a 'normal' little person as he has been held back because of the treatment.”
Jacob will continue to receive his weekly chemotherapy at GOSH and his daily maintenance chemotherapy from home via his intravenous line, and every two months he will have a MRI scan.
He isn't in remission yet but has defied the odds that he was given.
For more information and to donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Luke-Wendy-ClicSargent.
You can also donate by texting the word LHWG89 to 70070 and the amount of £2, £3, £4, £5, £10.
For more information on Clic Sargent, visit www.clicsargent.org.uk.
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