Running the Great North Run for Target Ovarian Cancer 🏃♀️✨
Thank you so much for visiting our page!
On Sunday, September 13th, the two of us, Carley and Dena, will be hitting the streets of Newcastle to tackle the iconic Great North Run. 13.1 miles is going to be a huge physical challenge for our legs, but it is absolutely nothing compared to the fight being faced by the strongest woman we know.
Earlier this year, Dena’s Mam, Dianne, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her diagnosis came after an incredibly frustrating, exhausting few weeks of going backwards and forwards to the GP, fighting for answers while knowing deep down that something wasn't right. Right now, she is undergoing treatment and showing us what true bravery looks like every single day. She is our absolute hero.
This news turned our world upside down, but it also lit a massive fire under us. Watching the struggle it took just to get Dianne diagnosed made us realise how desperately we need to scream about awareness. We are taking on this half-marathon to show her how fiercely she is loved, to stand right by her side, and to raise vital funds for Target Ovarian Cancer so other families don't have to fight just to be heard.
Why This Fight is So Personal to Us?
Before Dianne's diagnosis, we didn't know the reality of this disease, and that's exactly what needs to change. Ovarian cancer symptoms are so easily mistaken for other common conditions like IBS, which is why so many women face dangerous delays.
We want everyone reading this to know the facts that we had to learn the hard way:
• The Reality: Around 7,500 women are diagnosed in the UK each year, and sadly, 11 women die from it every single day.
• The Diagnostic Delay: Two-thirds of women are diagnosed late, when it's much harder to treat. And crucially - something we didn't realize before - a routine cervical screening (smear test) does NOT detect ovarian cancer.
• The Symptoms: Please, take a second to look at these. Knowing them and demanding answers saves lives. If you or a loved one experience these persistently, please see a GP:
◦ Persistent bloating (that doesn't come and go)
◦ Feeling full quickly or a loss of appetite
◦ Pelvic or abdominal pain
◦ Needing to wee more urgently or frequently
Who We Are Running For: Target Ovarian Cancer
Target Ovarian Cancer is the UK's leading charity fighting this disease on every front. The work they do is exactly what Dianne - and women like her - need. They train GPs to spot symptoms earlier, fund ground-breaking research for kinder treatments, and provide a lifeline of support for families like ours navigating the darkest days. Their ultimate goal is to double survival rates by 2050, and we want to help them get there.
How You Can Support Us
Every single pound we raise will go directly toward ensuring women get diagnosed faster and receive the support they deserve.
Whether it’s the price of a takeaway coffee or a larger pledge, every bit of your generosity will be what keeps our legs moving when those brutal hills hit us in South Shields! (And trust us, we’re going to need all the help we can get!)
If you aren't able to donate, please just hit the share button. By sharing Dianne's story and these symptoms, you might just help another family get the answers they need before it's too late.
Thank you from the very bottom of our hearts for your love, support, and messages. We appreciate you more than you know.
Wish us luck! We're doing this for Dianne, and we're doing this for every woman's future.
All our love,
Carley & Dena xx
