For Julie Wixey from Oxfordshire, running the Virgin Money London Marathon means keeping a promise she made five years ago. ‘In 2014 I was diagnosed with a sarcoma. It changed my life. I had major surgery and will continue to have regular MRIs and checks. I made a promise that if I got to five years without a re-occurrence that I’d enter the London Marathon. Well here I am!’
Until Julie’s diagnosis, Matt Burke, Julie’s partner, had never heard of sarcoma. ‘Thankfully it was caught early enough, but now every six months we go to the Royal Marsden in London for Julie’s scans and then the results’.
‘We have been lucky’, says Matt, ‘and by raising funds through taking part in the Marathon, we can help more people be as fortunate. Just £20 will fund a support worker to help take a call and give advice from someone affected by sarcoma in their time of need. Julie wouldn't be here without funding.'
The pair have been raising funds and awareness on the streets of Witney, Oxfordshire and have been joined by a four-legged member of #TeamSarcoma: Mollie, a boxer. ‘Mollie has helped us raise loads’, says Matt. ‘Everyone loves a boxer! ‘
Meet more of this year's #TeamSarcoma Marathon champs:
Paula Fry: This could happen to any of us
Matthew Clarke: I hadn't heard of sarcoma before Susan was diagnosed
Barry Thompson: I cannot put into words how much the Support Line helped