Personal message

On Behalf Of St Luke's Combined Hospice.

Follow my training journey on Twitter or Instagram: @MissGailis #GetMissGailisTo21km

Cancer. I don't know a single person unaffected by this disease in some way, and last year... cancer kicked my family's ass. In what seemed to be in quick succession, two relatives were diagnosed, and in 2017 passed away from cancer.

My aunt, Nolene, had cancer of the liver which in no time at all spread to the rest of her body. My uncle, Henry, struggled with shortness of breath, was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away within 12 weeks. 

While the cure for cancer seems to elude us despite it's ravaging global effects, there was a small comfort in an otherwise nightmarish experience... St Luke's Combined Hospice. 

St Luke's Hospice cares for patients regardless of background, race or financial circumstances through home and in-ward nursing support. All of their patients have life-limiting illnesses and need palliative care. Many of them come from disadvantaged communities and cannot afford this care. In order to do this, St Luke's depend on sponsors, donations and fundraising activities.

To this end, I've asked St Luke's Hospice if I can facilitate with their fundraising efforts by running the Old Mutual Two Oceans Half Marathon (OMTOM) on their behalf to raise money.

My goal is to raise R10 000 for the Hospice and, in return, I offer up my blood, sweat and tears in training and completing the 21km OMTOM in March 2018. 

My prayer is that with this funding - and the many more I hope the Hospice will raise throughout the year through their generous benefactors - that God will ease the pain and suffering of those nearing the end of their lives. That He will provide comfort and compassion to those who need it. That He will bless the nursing staff for their aid and that He will inspire the minds of those capable of discovering a cure and finally, that He will ease the tears of those of us left behind grieving lost loved ones. 

I'm running this race in memory of:

Nolene Solomons, Henry Arendse, James and Maureen Odgers, Jerry Weber, Lionel Festus, Bronwyn Wheatley and all those who have lost a loved one to cancer. 

More on St Luke's Combined Hospice here.

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