Aunty Alison

I wasn't planning on writing this today. I was going to tell you about my training, and confess that I'd had a lazy week. But sadly, we got the news this morning that my lovely aunt passed away last night. So I thought I'd tell you a little about her.
Alison had been fighting bowel cancer for a couple of years, and when I say fight, I mean fight. Not only did she fight for her own health, but she also fought to get better, more compassionate treatment for other sufferers, speaking at the house of commons on behalf of Beating Bowel Cancer  as recently as January . She remained cheerful and positive despite the disease and was always ready to offer support to anyone who needed it, becoming a regular on the Beating Bowel Cancer patient forum. She has touched the lives of many, many people.
I am reminded of when my Nan (Alison's mother-in-law) died; Alison told me about a conversation they had had when she was expecting her daughter. She had asked my Nan, How would she love another baby, when she loved her son so very much? How could she share the love between two children? Of course my Nan told her that the love wouldn't need to be shared, but that the amount of love would grow so there would be plenty to go around. Naturally, there was plenty of room in Alison's heart for Hazel, then in time her heart grew to include her daughter-in-law, then her grandson (and oh how she loved being a grandparent!). Over the last few days the huge capacity of Alison's heart has become clear: tributes have flooded in from people who were touched by her love, from children she has taught to colleagues and fellow cancer sufferers. So, to my big-hearted aunty Alison: I'm running the Great North Run for you. And to everyone else: please give generously!