This September, Emma Achurch is running 21 KM, (aka a Half Marathon!) every day for 21 consecutive days to raise money for the Mouth Cancer Foundation, who are turning 21 this year.
The challenge is being undertaken in memory of her beloved dad, Phil, who sadly died last July at just 59 years old after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of mouth cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, less than four months earlier. For his daughter, running is a particularly meaningful way to remember him.
Emma takes up the story… “If you were lucky enough to have known Phil, you will know that he loved his sports, and particularly in his later years, running. Most Saturday mornings you would find him at a Parkrun somewhere in the country (or world!), most likely with either myself or my sister Laura too. This challenge felt a particularly fitting way to honour him, doing something that we shared a love of and did for so many years together. But you know me, I had to make it extra hard for myself!
Before Dad was diagnosed with mouth cancer, we had no idea that this form of cancer existed. We certainly didn’t know that only 60% of people diagnosed currently live for more than 5 years. Or that cases of mouth cancer are increasing at a higher rate than almost all other cancers, with over 10,000 people diagnosed in the UK last year and 3,000 people losing their lives. Head and neck cancers now rank as the 7th most common cancer group in the country.
Dad had to endure so much in his final few months with us, more than any person should ever have to. In May he had an invasive 9-hour operation on his face which left him not only looking different, but sounding different too. We thought that this would give him a fighting chance to have more time us, but sadly that wasn’t to be. After multiple hospital stays, more operations that included him having a feeding tube inserted that made him nil by mouth, we were told last June that his cancer had spread and devastatingly, he would only have a short amount of time left with us.
Phil refused to give up and accept that was the case (he had always been VERY strong willed!), so off we went to the Cromwell Hospital in London so that he could have a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. From June onwards however he had to battle with the knowledge that the tumour in his mouth was growing rapidly next to an artery, and if he had a major bleed there would be nothing that the doctors or surgeons could do for him. Bleeds from his surgical site happened frequently, and they were so scary to witness and manage let alone be the one they were happening to. Dad really was our hero, and showed so much strength and courage in his final few weeks on earth. There was no doubt that he, and the rest of us, felt very alone in his diagnosis, and were left flawed by just how difficult life can be for people living with head and neck cancers and their families, who overnight become their primary caregivers.
And that’s where The Mouth Cancer Foundation come in. They are a charity dedicated to helping and supporting those suffering from or at risk of mouth cancer, throat cancer and other head and neck cancers. They also provide assistance and information on living with mouth cancer for families, friends and carers.
Additionally, they raise money to fund research for mouth cancers and their treatment options, and raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of mouth cancer. Early detection really does save lives- please take a moment find out what to look out for here.
If you’ve got to the end of this essay(!) then a huge huge thank you. It means the world. I’m aware that this goal will be a massive challenge, but I also know that it will be absolutely nothing compared to what people living with head and neck cancer have to endure on a daily basis. I remember the life altering moment when we were told that Dad had Stage 4 mouth cancer. Every step that I run will be fuelled by the hope that one day, no-one will have to hear those words again. If you’ve ever lost anyone to any form of cancer, this challenge is for them, and you, too.
Any donation, no matter how big or small, is so greatly appreciated and really will get me round those 441 KM (ok, now writing that is scary..!)! Thank you so much. See you on the flip side!
I love you Dad and miss you more every day. I hope that I make you proud. Em xxx”
We know Emma will smash this and make everyone proud. This challenge is hard, so please help Emma reach her target by visiting her Just Giving page – https://www.justgiving.com/page/emma-achurch-21km-for-21-days
Thank you!
MOUTHCANCER
