Andrea's story – training for the London Marathon around the world in memory of mum

As a flight attendant I'm training whenever I land. Sometimes, even after a ten-hour flight, I will train for a couple of hours up to four hours at a time. And just last week, I completed a half marathon in LA that I signed up for on the spot.

Life was for living

I only began working as a flight attendant two years ago – and in fact had ‘just got my wings’ before mum died. 

Mum had been too scared to fly herself and this gave me the confidence to do this. 

Becoming a flight attendant had never really entered my head and following my cancer diagnosis and feeling at a loss after both my boys had flown the nest I decided life was for living and the world was to be seen with my own eyes. 

I've put in months of training – running in far flung places including in Bahrain, Rio, New York, San Francisco, LA and Singapore as well as training on home turf.

Mum's cancer

My mum knew she had a mole for a while that had got a bit bigger and darker but it had been during Covid and she had been scared to go out and she had put off going to her GP about it for a while. 

Sadly, mum had left it a bit too long so when they did do surgery to remove it – it was really invasive. 

The doctors also did lymph node removal and my mum was deemed to be all clear in 2021, however, she remained under her dermatologist's care for a further five years due to the severity of her cancerous mole.

My own cancer was more on the surface and it was removed quite easily. I was lucky in that I found this early enough but, sadly for mum, it had been too late and the cancer had spread.

Mum had been in the Salvation Army since she was a young girl and she had never smoked or drank. She lived a really good life and I learned a lot from her. She also received an MBE for her services driving people to Rennie Grove Hospice.

When the cancer took over early in March 2025, it all happened very quickly. 

We have actually just passed her two year anniversary this March. When she passed away, it was a really, very anxious time for the family but mum handled everything with great bravery.

I was really very proud of my mum’s bravery and dignity throughout. 

Finding Maggie's

There’s just something wonderful about Maggie’s – it’s such a lovely inviting and warm space and the staff do all that they can to give people hope and help them to live as well as they can with cancer. There is a real community spirit.

Mum and I did an online meditation session with Maggie’s when we were both not long diagnosed during Covid, and we visited the Maggie’s at the Royal Free a couple of times.

My mum never actually got to see the new centre but she did go in to the old building. She thought it was brilliant. 

I also visited Maggie’s Royal Free on its first birthday. I found it really quite humbling to be around people who also had cancer in common and to see the love they all shared with one another.

I do worry about a recurrence for myself and its often kept me awake but I know that I can go to Maggie’s or pick up the phone to them. And that’s why I’m running for Maggie’s because I need more people to be aware of their support.

Running my first London Marathon



I’m running the marathon to raise awareness of Maggie’s because I want people to know they have beautiful centres with professional staff where people can support them.

I first ran the London Marathon in 2021 as I believed we were survivors. 

This time, I’m running the marathon in memory of my mum and to raise money for Maggie’s – I know my mum would be so proud. 

She’d be proud of everything I’ve done – the fact that I’ve embraced my new job after a very worrying period, and that I’ve had the courage to fly all over the world.

She would also be very proud that I’m running for Maggie’s.

My boys are proud of me too – as I am of them. They never thought their mum would be a runner or fly across the globe.

Ordinary people – people like me think they don’t need Maggie’s, but then cancer can come into their lives when they’re least expecting it.

We’re here with you

Our cancer support specialists, psychologists and benefits advisors are here for everyone with cancer, and all the people who love them. 

• Come and see us at your nearest Maggie’s
• call us on 0300 123 180 or arrange a callback
• email us at enquiries@maggies.org