Team Swallows - Gemma Buckell

£215

15 mi

Hi - Thank You for visiting my fundraising page. This year I will be taking part in the Banham Marsden March at Home on Sunday 23rd May - originally a 15 mile walk between the two Royal Marsden hospital sites in Chelsea and Sutton but this year it will now be a virtual “at home” event. Myself and my niece will be completing a 15 mile walk along the Eastbourne coastline (route tbc) and my sister Zara will be completing a walk in her hometown Dublin. Together we are Team Swallows! (The team name is because we all have similar swallow tattoos on our backs which we got in honour of our dear dad/grandad who passed away in 2007.) So the reason for us walking this year... In April 2019 my sister was diagnosed with a retroperineal sarcoma - an extremely rare type of cancer that accounts for less than 1% of cancers diagnosed. The only known successful treatment for this type of cancer is surgery to remove the cancerous tumour but this is usually extremely difficult, often impossible, due to the nature and location of the sarcoma. My sisters initial prognosis did not look great. However thanks to the Royal Marsden and their amazing staff my sister had radical surgery to remove the sarcoma and it was successful. She now continues under the care of the Marsden with regular scans to check for signs of recurrence. Our family are so grateful to the Marsden and want to now give something back, starting with doing the Marsden March and helping to raise valuable funds to help other people who sadly may need to use the Marsden in the future. If you are able to donate, however big or small, it is very much appreciated- Thank you! UPDATE: In early March 2020 we were given the devastating news that there had been recurrence of sarcomas in the abdomen and lungs and my sister’s diagnoses was now terminal. Since then she has bravely undergone further surgery and radiotherapy treatment at the Marsden in the hope to prolong life expectancy and manage symptoms. Hopefully we can raise some funds for the Royal Marsden who have been amazing in all their help and support to my sister. Thousands of people join us every year to walk between our two Royal Marsden sites in Chelsea and Sutton. Youll find patients, families, supporters of the hospital and Royal Marsden staff all taking part and fundraising.We started The Banham Marsden March in 2011 and since then youve raised more than £13 million. This incredible amount has helped The Royal Marsden to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and improve the lives of everyone affected by cancer, across the UK and around the world.But we dont want to stop there. We want you to help us celebrate our tenth anniversary in style: with more walkers than ever before, and by raising £2 million for a very special cause: to help build the Oak Cancer Centre.This brand-new centre, in Sutton, will help us speed up the development of life-saving treatments and ensure we can be there for everyone who needs us.

Raised

£215

Target

£300

71.66666666666667% there

Achievements

Fundraising

Got your first donation

Your first donation

£50 raised

£150 raised

Challenge

5 miles complete!

15 miles complete!