Marathon effort backs partner fighting illness
Thatcham man sets target of £1,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support
A THATCHAM man is on a fundraising mission for a cancer charity that has supported his partner – and a cancer scare of his own.
Martin Williams will pound the streets of Edinburgh for the city’s marathon in May with the aim of raising thousands of pounds for MacMillan Cancer Support.
The 56-year-old is taking up the challenge for his partner Linda Smith who is battling the disease.
The couple have supported each other for 26 years and Miss Smith was diagnosed around two years ago.
“There’s not a lot that people can say that,” Mr Williams said, adding that his long-time sweetheart was a strong woman who was fighting her cancer and dealing with the diagnosis as best as she could.
Wanting to support the nurses who had devoted their care and attention to his partner, Mr Williams said: “There has been too many cherished and loved ones taken or affected by this disease.
“I have decided it is time to give something back to those whose mission it is to support everyone touched, in whatever way, by cancer.”
Mr Williams said that staff at the West Berkshire Community Hospital and the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading had been fantastic; and that MacMillan nurses had helped to reassure the couple every step of the way.
“I feel I want to give something back to these people who guide us through this journey that has all the dread and fear attached to the C- word,” he said.
Mr Williams said that his preparation for the marathon was on track, despite him having an operation to remove skin cancer earlier this month.
“I will be ready for it,” he said, despite the stitches after the operation.
Mr Williams has already kicked off his quest to raise £1,500 via a charity head shave at The Castle Inn, Cold Ash.
His friend Stephen Briggs braved the shave, performed by Mr Williams himself, to raise more than £440 – and a few laughs – for the cause.
The amount raised on Mr Williams fundraising site is nearing the half-way mark at £665.63 to date.
When asked how Miss Smith had responded to his fundraising efforts, Mr Williams said: “I think’s she’s a little taken aback with the money coming in and a little flabbergasted it’s happened so quickly.”
He said that his family’s shock after the diagnosis had turned to total support, with his daughter assisting him on training runs.
To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/Martin-Williams252
