When the starter horn sounds for the 2017 Vitality Bath Half Marathon, it will be a big moment for Abby Kean. The 36-year-old teacher at King Edward’s School will be running the race in place of her husband, Jon, who earlier this year was diagnosed with lymphoma, and trying to raise as much money as possible for Lead Charity, Cancer Research UK.

For Abby, a self-confessed non-runner, completing the 13.1-mile course on Sunday, 12th March will be a challenge in itself. “The most I have ever run in one go is 5K at my local parkrun, pushing my nine-month-old baby in his buggy,” says Abby. “But it’s really important to me to run the race as a mark of support for my husband, to raise money for such an important cause and also raise awareness of lymphoma, which can often present no symptoms at all.”

Indeed, Abby was surprised when Jon, 42, first visited his doctor back in July with a tickly cough and feeling tired. Surprise turned to shock when a precautionary chest x-ray revealed that Jon in fact had second stage lymphoma, a cancer which usually affects people much younger or older.

Fortunately in Jon’s case, they caught the lymphoma early. He is currently undergoing his first course of chemotherapy and is bravely fighting the disease. For now, he is even still able to run gently, which is his real passion. As an experienced runner, Jon will be helping to coach Abby as she trains for the race over the winter.

Abby’s determination to complete the Vitality Bath Half Marathon is even more impressive, given her own medical history. Having had major knee reconstruction due to trochlear dysplasia, she needs to take particular care when running –

another real reason for her to take it slow and make sure she crosses the finish line safely.

Abby certainly won’t be short of support on the day, as a team from King Edward’s School, Bath, will be running the race with her next spring. With Cancer Research UK being the dedicated school’s charity for this year, and another member of staff having been diagnosed with breast cancer, they have had little trouble forming a team for the Vitality Bath Half, which will include staff and Sixth Form students.

Abby hopes to raise £500 for Cancer Research UK, which she will contribute to the school’s fundraising total. The school community has already raised an

impressive £5,000 for Cancer Research at this year’s Great Bristol Half Marathon. Anyone wishing to support Abby can do so via her JustGiving page, www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Abby-Kean

Funds raised for Cancer Research UK at the 2017 Vitality Bath Half Marathon will be put towards valuable research and education in the local Bath and South West area. The charity will be making a difference to the local area by inspiring local schoolchildren to lead a healthy lifestyle and educating local people about healthy living.

The 2017 Vitality Bath Half Marathon is open for entries and places are selling fast. General public places have sold out every year since 2000 and, as

always, runners are being advised to secure their place early through the race’s website to avoid disappointment.

Cancer Research UK is the Lead Charity for 2017, with Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens the official Family Fun Run Charity and Dorothy House Hospice Care the official Local Charity. In 2016 alone, runners raised over £2.2 million for charity.

Go to www.bathhalf.co.uk/charities for further details about running for charity, like the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BathHalfMarathon and follow @bathhalf #bathhalf on Twitter to keep up-to-date with all the latest news about the Bath Half.