Keith is running the Cardiff University\/Cardiff Half Marathon to raise funds for cancer research at Cardiff University in memory of his sister Rhona.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m running to raise funds for cancer research, specifically the malignant melanoma that stole my youngest sister, and changed my life irrevocably<\/strong>. Rhona died in\u00a0late 2011, about 18 months after she was first diagnosed. She was just 33 years old. Her life-long partner, Danny, had died in an accident a few months earlier.\u00a0This meant that her two children, Rhyss and Brooke, aged 13 and\u00a0three at the time, were orphaned. It was a devastating time, and we still feel her loss. Anyone who has experienced this kind of grief will understand that life doesn\u2019t return to \u2018normal\u2019 after a certain period of time. It\u2019s a change that persists long after.<\/p>\n I’d often thought about doing something in Rhona\u2019s memory, but was\u00a0never quite sure what to do. <\/strong>I\u2019d always played sport, preferably football, but then in a competitive match on St. Patrick’s Day in\u00a02013, I partially tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in my right knee. I got back to playing again, but then fully ruptured the ACL –\u00a0in the same knee –\u00a0in 2015, again on St. Patrick’s Day (Patrick’s having a laugh at my expense, right?). I had an operation later that year to repair the menisci and some other bits of the knee, but decided to forego a full reconstruction of my ACL and just live with it. After several months of (mostly) walking rehab, in March 2016 I got excited and joined in with a local parkrun. Even though I was worried about my knee, I loved it! I also found that I\u2019m not bad at running!<\/p>\n \u00a0I\u00a0decided I’d run the Cardiff University\/Cardiff Half-Marathon.<\/strong> Running as part of #TeamCardiff, I could choose to fundraise for cancer research; it was a perfect fit. This feels important to me; I really appreciate having the opportunity to remember my sister and to also raise money that will help some very smart people learn more about this terrible disease. In some small way I feel I\u2019m making a difference. That might sound cheesy, but it\u2019s true for me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I\u2019m really looking forward to\u00a0Race Day.<\/strong> I\u2019ve never run a race before, and while this means there are unknowns, I\u2019ve had lots of people telling me it\u2019s a fabulous, memorable event, which is very encouraging. I\u2019m also looking forward to, hopefully, getting my first running medal \u2013 it\u2019s only a small thing but I think running medals almost always look amazing! More than anything though, I\u2019m excited about seeing so many people, runners of all different shapes and sizes, speeds, backgrounds, hopes and goals, come together as one. I\u2019m passionate about the importance of being active and the half marathon is definitely about this.<\/p>\n There is still\u00a0some sadness that pops up now and again, usually when I\u2019m thinking about my sister.<\/strong> I guess I miss her, and doing this brings that home. As part of the fundraising process, many people who knew Rhona have expressed very thoughtful, personal and encouraging messages which have added to this emotion. I cried whilst writing my JustGiving<\/a> story and there have been other moments of upset. Of course, this is all absolutely normal, and given that one of my main motivations for doing this is\u00a0the memory of\u00a0my sister, these emotions are\u00a0very understandable.<\/p>\n I\u2019d like to mention that\u00a0running in Cardiff is also important to me. <\/strong>Rhona visited South Wales and Cardiff shortly before she passed away; the trip was a dying wish of hers, and she’d never been before. One of my fondest memories of her stay was a boat ride we took together in Cardiff Bay. Half-way around, she looked at me with the most radiant smile and told me ‘It’s deadly, isn’t it’. (‘Deadly’ is Irish slang for ‘amazing’ or ‘brilliant’.) That moment lit me up and broke my heart all at once. A couple of weeks later she was gone. I hope that as I\u2019m coasting around the Bay (this is positive self-talk!) on Race Day, I\u2019ll be mindful of the memories I have,\u00a0and\u00a0keep my sister close.<\/p>\n One of my supporters said that Rhona would be \u2018. . .putting wings on your runners or ants in your pants to get you to the finish line.\u2019, which really made me smile. I might try to visualise both on the day \u2013 I\u2019ll report back to let you know whether this makes any difference to my finish time. . . (runners means trainers back in Ireland).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n If you haven\u2019t already done so, make your fundraising effort personal.<\/strong> Tell your story or someone else\u2019s. Share something people wouldn\u2019t necessarily know. You want to create a relationship with someone who might then be moved to support you. Be real; imagine talking to someone sitting in front of you and what you might say to them about why you\u2019re running and why they should support you. Lastly, try to notice Race Day \u2013 if you haven\u2019t already, have a read about mindfulness and see if you can apply it to your running. I find myself much more a part of the running process when I\u2019m mindful, when I can notice what\u2019s happening in my body, what thoughts are whizzing about in my head, and what\u2019s happening around me. It\u2019s grounding.<\/p>\n Good luck if you\u2019re going to be part of the race<\/strong>. Please feel free to stop and say hello if you recognise me \u2013 I\u2019d love to wish you the best or throw you a high-five if you\u2019ve completed the run.<\/p>\n