Hi All

Some of you may or may not know that Elenore has been suffering from Ovarian Cancer for two or more years. Currently, she is in the middle of her fifth session of chemotherapy. Typical of her, she is still well and truly 'on the go' and thinking and working for others. Our two daughters, Hannah and Emma, have been doing the Manchester run for a few years for charity but have decided to do something different this year rather than ask for the usual donations.

The following is a copy of an e-mail they have sent to their friends. I think it is self-explanatory:

Quote:

Painful Pelvis, Bloated Belly, Stuffed Stomach...? It could be a symptom...


Some of you will know that my sister and I are running the Manchester 10k next week.

We’re not asking for sponsorship ... we do not want your money... ...but we WOULD like you to help us to raise awareness of the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer.

Our mother is currently doing battle with this cancer. It is a disease with good survival rates if it is caught early. Sadly though, most women are diagnosed too late, because the symptoms are vague ... because, after all, doesn’t everyone get a bit bloated now and then?

Knowing the symptoms can mean the difference between surviving or not... It would make a huge difference to us if you could support us by:


learning these 3 symptoms yourself:


1    Bloated Belly – permanent, not bloating that comes and goes

2    Stuffed Stomach - feeling full, difficulty eating

3    Painful Pelvis – a persistent pain, that is there most days


and send this message to 3 friends who you care about


We are hoping that if every one of our friends sends this message to 3 of their friends (more if you like) and each of them sends it to 3 of their friends, that this message might reach someone in time to make a difference.

And for all you blokes out there with big bellies ...please don’t worry you won’t have ovarian cancer...

If you see us running on the 16^th, please give us a cheer and shout ‘Beat Cancer’... your support will keep us going...

Many thanks

Hannah and Emma Lowry

For more information please see the NHS Choices Website

Our health professional friends might like to look at: www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_1...

From our own experience, Elenore and I would like to add the following:

Ovarian Cancer is known as the ‘Silent Killer’ because the symptoms are so easy to pass-off as something else. Many GPs and Consultants fail to make the correct diagnosis early as they lose much valuable time chasing other perfectly reasonable possibilities before coming to the correct conclusion. Early diagnosis, or elimination, is vital for increasing the chances of survival and can be achieved through early tests and a scan. If you have any doubts, make yourself a bl---y nuisance to the medics. After all, it is their job to assist you. You are the customer and pay their wages. Notwithstanding my comments and Elenore’s rather late diagnosis, we have had excellent care and attention from many in the medical world.

Please do not think you should only pass this information on to female friends etc. We blokes have wives, sisters, mothers, girlfriends, partners etc. Often it is the person at a slight distance who can see the ‘wood for the trees’. Similarly, it is not only the older female who is at risk. An acquaintance of Elenore’s contracted the disease as a young university student. Fortunately, an early diagnosis was achieved and she now works for a cancer charity.

If we can save one life through passing on this little 'bit' of knowledge, it will have been very, very worthwhile. The target is in contacting at least 5,000 people.

My thanks for your patience and attention and, hopefully, your help in passing on this important information.

Rgds

Dave Lowry

P.S.  For those of you who have kindly enquired at FCA events after my two 'little girls'. Hannah and Emma have grown a bit since you saw them last !! We are both immensely proud of them.

The Manchester 10Km Run went off very successfully. There were 29,000 runners supporting many charities and many more spectators. The atmosphere was great and good humoured. It was a very enjoyable event. The City was impressive as ever in both architecture and cleanliness. Despite the numbers litter was virtually absent and the streets pristine almost immediately afterwards. It is a pity some other cities cannot learn from the good practice.

Both Hannah and Emma completed the run in 1Hr 3Mins 47 Seconds running as a pair. They wore 'T" Shirts with the symptoms on back and front to help raise awareness. In the crowd, Elenore and I, and Grandson Ethan wore identical 'T' Shirts resulting in interest and enquiries.

It was Emma's 3rd Manchester Run and Hannah's 5th but the first trying to support awareness of Ovarian Cancer. Both would like thank all who have forwarded the information on the symptoms, the problems and vital need for early diagnosis. It will be impossible to know where the information has spread but from our own efforts we know it is in Australia circulating the Oil Industry, in the USA circulating the Chemical Industry, in Eire, in Northern Ireland and in France in addition to much of the UK Mainland. If it helps only one person it has been well worthwhile.

For myself, as a pure bred Scouser, I find it difficult to praise Manchester as we are normally required to wash out our mouths if we even mention the word. They did, however, run a well organised and enjoyable event.

Again, many thanks to you all.

Dave Lowry

Good question Tony. I'm as pure bred as any Scouser can be. About 50% Northern Irish, 25% Welsh and 25% Non-descript which includes possibly more Welsh, Irish and maybe even English. Add to this a little Spanish. A seafaring ancestor brought a young lady home a few generations ago.

As Elenore is from Dublin, as yet, I haven't tried to work out the composition of our two daughters !!!!

Hope you are well.

Dave

Hi Alastair

Many thanks, your help is much appreciated and the Girls are very grateful. It is not possible to know how many people have seen the information but the Girl's target of 5,000 must have been exceeded considerably.

Having Liverpool Supporters in your Family has put you way up in my 'esteem' league table.

Rgds from a grateful Scouser.

Hannah and Emma, together with their friend Madge, successfully completed the Manchester 10Km Fun Run on Sunday last, 15 May. Their time was 61mins 20secs, their best time to date. They didn't quite match the international winners, Haile Gebresalassie and Helen Clitheroe but I'm sure they had them worried. In total, there were 38,000 runners. The atmosphere was fantastic. As a Scouser it hurts to praise Manchester but I have to admit, they do a great job of organisation.

The Girls have now increased awareness of the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer widely, from Finland to Australia, including the Americas.