Press release posted 6 July 2022

Faye Brown, a 36-year-old mum from Leek, is running the London marathon to raise money for The Christie, a specialist cancer centre in Manchester.

She’s taking on the 26-mile race in memory of her mum, Dianne Horne, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just weeks after Faye’s wedding in 2010. The cancer was advanced and had spread to other parts of her body. The team at her local hospital tried chemotherapy, which her body didn’t respond to.

Faye got in touch with a specialist at The Christie – one of the largest cancer centres in Europe – to see if any experimental treatments would help her mum. Dianne ended up taking part in a series of clinical trials for new drugs, which gave her 9 extra years. She sadly died in early 2019, aged just 59.

Faye said: “One of the reasons that The Christie is so special is that it’s both a hospital and a cancer research centre. The clinical trials mum was on meant she was around to meet her 2 grandchildren – we couldn’t be more grateful for everything they do. Their research is only possible thanks to charitable donations, so that’s why I’m fundraising for The Christie. I want to give more people like mum more time.”

The London marathon is the last in 11 challenges that Faye’s doing for The Christie. So far, she’s raised nearly £7,000 of her £10,000 target.

“I’ve done a lot of challenges over the last couple of years, but this is the biggie,” continues Faye. “I’ve never run this far but knowing I’m doing it for mum and The Christie will spur me on. She went through so much during treatment but never lost her fighting spirit. If I can channel just a small amount of her grit and determination, I know I’ll get through it.”

Faye is one of 22 people doing the iconic race for The Christie.

Josh Hughff, sporting events officer at The Christie said: “Faye is one of our most active fundraisers who has done many fundraising activities over the last few years in memory of her much-missed mum, Dianne.
“The London Marathon is a truly iconic event, and we are so proud that Faye will be running it for us this year. It is a tough run, but the atmosphere on the day with the crowds cheering the runners along makes it a unique and special day for those running and their supporters.
“I cannot think of a more fitting way for Faye to celebrate the memory of her mum. We are incredibly grateful to Faye for everything she has done to support our work and we will be there in London on 2 October to cheer her and all our marathon runners along.”

Faye is also working to complete The Christie challenge this year – completing 6 different fundraising activities over the year to earn a fabulous jigsaw medal featuring a rainbow Christie embrace.

The Christie charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families.