The Cookridge Community Run – in memory of Gareth Dunn 

 

Gareth was an active sportsman and had been selected to train with the British Paralympic squad. He ran the London Marathon in 2018 and often trained around Golden Acre Park a few minutes from his home in Cookridge.

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A motivated individual with a positive attitude to life, even in the face of adversity. He graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in History followed by a Masters in European Politics at Kings College London.

Gareth had been accepted for officer training at the Sandhurst Military Academy, however a few weeks after being accepted into the academy he was diagnosed with a Synovial Sarcoma in his foot, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. His right leg was amputated from the knee down and he was given a 50% chance of contracting secondary cancer. Gareth unfortunately contracted secondary cancer of the lungs and was given eighteen months to live in January 2017. He sadly passed away on 29 October 2018.

One of Gareth’s main passions was sport, both watching and participating. He had been accepted to train in five disciplines with UK Paralympic Team in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Despite his adversities Gareth made the most of every opportunity given to him, managing to complete the London Marathon in 2018 despite his debilitating condition, a truly astonishing achievement and a testament to the positive and determined outlook Gareth took on life. 

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Gareth raised more than £120,000 in just over a year for Cancer Research UK, specifically for Sarcoma research that will help people in his situation in the future. His wish was to continue the outstanding fundraising work done by himself and by friends and family and continue to raise money for this cause in his memory. 

Gareth also set up a blog www.chemotionallyunstable.com when he was given his terminal diagnosis in 2017, in his posts he discussed all aspects of living with incurable cancer from treatment and mental well-being to spiritually and fitness – why don't you take a look? 

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Thank you in anticipation for your support his family – April, Lee, Rhys and Olivia.