Please help.

I owe Macmillan nurses a debt of gratitude that I cannot pay alone.

In 1999 my 60 yr old father was diagnosed with lung cancer. He had aggressive chemotherapy; one of its less well known side effects is to alter taste.  Dad liked his whisky but it tasted of metal filings.

A Macmillan nurse had the solution: Pineapple Chunks. One to be taken before a dram. It worked. As he lost his battle with the cancer at least he could enjoy this luxury in his life.

In September 2005 my 38 year old sister was diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer.  Alison from Macmillan helped Marina as she came to terms with the cancer and the prospect of 8 cycles of chemo to be followed by a lumpectomy and lymph clearance and then by radiotherapy. Marina's early cycles of chemo were dreadful: vomiting, nausea, insomnia, complete hairloss, weight gain, mood swings, large injections into her stomach, fainting and crushing tiredness. But she was a hero.

Without Vanessa from Macmillan it would have been worse, so much worse. Vanessa was the human face of the chemists who were treating her, she listened, suggested, helped counselled and liaised.

Marina  had her surgery on 17th March. It has been a great success and now, at long last, there seems to be light at the end of this long dark tunnel.

3 days after the London Marathon is merely a memory Marina begins the final phase of her treatment on 26th April: 6 weeks of Radiotherapy. Again Macmillan are there, providing a dedicated Counsellor, Caroline: She, Vanessa and Alison still weave their magic helping, supporting and listening.... The race may nearly be run but Marina still needs Macmillan's help and Macmillan needs our help.

Please understand the help that a young, vital and single woman needs when facing the consequences of breast surgery, understand the support that a mother of 3 children under the age of 11 who is fighting cancer has to have, understand the fear of a woman, and her family and brother who have seen their father die from a disease with the same name and the reassurance that they require.

Without your money Macmillan cannot continue. I know that money is always tight and that you all have other commitments. But please, this is personal. It is important.

Please sponsor me to run the London Marathon. Please give more than you can afford.

Use this site as it is secure, instant and adds Gift Aid to increase your donation: If you are a basic rate or higher rate taxpayer it will add on 22% and if you are a higher rate tax payer then  you can reclaim a further18% so that £100 donation costs you £77 but gives Macmillan £128 or £200 costs you £154 but gives £256 or £300 costs you £231 but gives £384.

And how is Marina doing? http://womanlyparts.blogspot.com

I have been overwhelmed by the amount that you have all given. I simply had not counted on so many people being so very generous. Thank you, all of you, from the bottom of my heart.