Suzanne's Marathon

I was diagnosed with tongue cancer in the summer of 2006, aged 26. During my recovery from surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, I had plenty of time to reflect and I wrote a ‘to do’ list. Doing a marathon was a challenge that had caught my imagination since taking up running a year before becoming ill, but when I wrote the list I couldn’t envisage ever being able to run 26.2 miles. With the significant two year milestone since the end of treatment looming, I thought it would be great to celebrate by taking up the challenge and raising money for Macmillan at the same time.

No doubt many Headstart members have had the good fortune to come into contact with Macmillan nurse Jo Kerr who used to work at the Queen Victoria Hospital. Jo was an absolute star during my treatment and I think it would be fantastic if every cancer patient could have access to someone like her who can give encouragement and specialist care. I knew that raising money to help other cancer patients and their families get the practical, medical, financial and emotional support they need through Macmillan would really keep me going during the winter months on long training runs in the cold and dark.

I started training in December and I was introduced to a whole new world of running. I learnt about the importance of Vaseline and carbohydrate gels, experienced the pain of sports massages and did running sessions I had never heard of before, with names like Kenyan Hills and Pyramids. Probably my favourite run was along the banks of the river Nile in Egypt with a guy who has run more than 25 marathons, including one on all seven continents. I managed to stick to a schedule of running three times during the week and doing a long run at weekends. The training was hard work, but I really enjoyed it and made big improvements.

Marathon day dawned on 26 April and it was a scorcher! Nevertheless, I completed the course in 4hr 25 and met my target of finishing in less than four and a half hours.

It was a fantastic experience and I enjoyed soaking up the amazing atmosphere. Highlights were seeing thousands of people line up to start in Greenwich Park, running over the iconic Tower Bridge, the cheers of 'Go Suzanne' from strangers, seeing family and friends at different points around the route, getting to Embankment and realising there wasn't far to go and then turning the corner at Buckingham Palace. The joy of seeing the finishing line was something else and I must admit to having a little bit of a weep with relief as I ground to a halt. What kept me running was being part of Team Macmillan and the great news is that due to the generosity and support of family and friends, I have raised £4,700.

During my recovery from cancer, I remember meeting some former head and neck cancer patients who were once again living their lives to the full. At my lowest points, I could not imagine any light at the end of the tunnel for me and needless to say running a marathon seemed like an impossible dream. Now I am the fittest I have ever been and I feel like I have got my own back on my body after it did the dirty on me! I am so grateful that I was able to achieve my two goals of giving something back to Macmillan and completing the marathon challenge.

Suzanne Rogers
May 2009

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