Bethany Grey; the queen of picking herself up and trying again!

By Hannah Thompson

Life can be cruel sometimes, it can throw pain and suffering your way when you least expect it, leaving you with only your broken self to try and pick up the pieces. It’s that strength that is said to define us, it builds character.  I’m not talking about the hurt and the suffering, I’m talking about the ability to stick your pieces back together and carry on with your life even after the most unfortunate events.

Twenty-one year old Bethany Grey is no exception. Her story is one filled with horrors, however after a long journey it seems that she’s finally basking in the light at the end of the tunnel, and she is celebrating in rather a remarkable way.

After having to defer her entry for The London Marathon last year due to ill health, Beth, who is as spritely as anything and constantly wearing a smile the Cheshire Cat would envy, is over the moon to tell me that she has been given the all clear and is running 26.2 miles this year for Cancer Research  UK!

Beth, who was involved in an ice skating accident at the age of 13 which resulted in severe cartilage damage in her hip and nerve damage to her legs, has gone through a lot for someone who has only recently turned 21. After her accident, which had the potential to leave her paralysed, she endured years of excruciating pain which could only be dulled by excessively strong pain killers which, in the end, damaged the lining of her stomach so badly, they caused internal bleeding.

Eight years after her accident, Beth still admits to being in a lot of pain. However, after witnessing the strength of her mother who was diagnosed with two aggressive types of breast cancer in 2010, Beth found her strength and was inspired by her mum’s fight to do something amazing.

“My mum is without doubt the bravest person I have ever known, and probably ever will know. She is a massive inspiration to me,” she says, adding that after seeing her mum go through cancer she knew she had to raise money for the “amazing charity that helps people like my mum, survive.”

Beth, who admits to being “stupidly terrified”, but also quite excited about the marathon has reached nearly 70% of her target and hopes to raise more money nearer the time.  

Like Bethany, Ryan Goode is also running this year’s marathon for Cancer Research and again is inspired by his mum who finally was finally given the all clear on the 23^rd March 2015. “After watching my mum suffer with breast cancer since 2008 I’m so happy that she has gone into remission. What perfect timing, I’m running the marathon nearly 4 weeks to the day!”

Ryan, who has applied to run the London Marathon in the past but never been successful, feels “so lucky” to have finally got a place and can’t wait for the big day.

From all of us at Dolce Vita, we wish you good luck! 

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