A detective and mother-of-two who is living with incurable cancer says it was emotional seeing her extended police family push themselves to their limit during a charity fundraiser held in her honour.
Lisa Coxon (36), a Staffordshire Police Federation member, has told how grateful she is to her colleagues who organised a sporting challenge to raise money for her chosen charity, Make 2nds Count.
The event saw three teams from the Force completing a static Ergathlon, which involved them skiing, rowing and cycling the 345 miles, the distance between Staffordshire and Disneyland Paris.
Disneyland Paris is on Lisa’s ‘Best Life List’, a bucket-type list she created after being diagnosed with incurable secondary breast cancer in April this year.
“I visited the lads during the last push of the challenge and I felt an enormous sense of pride that they were raising money and awareness in my honour,” said Lisa, who has two young sons, Ace, two and Jax, six.
“I’m so grateful to them.”
Lisa was first diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in August 2020, when Ace was just 10-months-old.
Having had several stints of treatment, Lisa was told she was cancer free, however, around a year later, she was given the devastating news that the cancer had spread to her brain and this time it was incurable.
Lisa has since been on a mission to make special memories with her two sons and husband, Jordan, as well as fulfil her life goals, which is where the idea for ‘Lisa’s Best Life List’ came from.
As well as a trip to Disneyland Paris, the list also includes the likes of taking her sons to London, taking her mum to Paris, visiting Lapland with her family, going in a hot air balloon and having a ‘yes day’ - a day in which she only says ‘yes’ to whatever Ace and Jax want to do.
“It’s not all big things on the list,” added Lisa. She said: “I want to go camping, and take my boys volunteering. I want to do normal things with them that mums do, teach them life lessons, as well as make memories with them.”
As part of the list, Lisa also has her own personal ‘to-do list’ of life goals, which includes finishing a book that she is writing, learning to play the piano and, above everything else, being a great mum.
“I haven’t asked how long I have left but according to Google, the average is 13 months,” Lisa explained.
“But nothing about my situation is average. I’ve responded really well to the treatment and I’m doing everything I can to promote longevity. Of course, I’m aware there’s a time limit on my life, I know I don’t have the luxury of time.
“I’m spinning plates trying to do things with my family because I know that these memories might be the only thing my boys have of me.
“This list gives me something to focus on, it gives us all something to focus on. Cancer sucks the life out of you and everyone around you.”
The Ergathlon event was conceived by Lisa’s colleague, Dan Knott, who admits the challenge was definitely harder than they anticipated.
“We all knew it was going to be a challenge but we didn’t think it would be as hard as it was,” said Dan, who has been in the Force for 13 years.
“Lisa turning up to watch couldn’t have come at a better time. We were all struggling for motivation but having her there gave us a real boost.”
Dan, who has two children himself, had previously worked with Lisa and admits that upon hearing that her cancer had returned was ‘heartbreaking’.
“I wanted to organise this event for Lisa and also to raise money for charity,” added Dan.
“Initially, we wanted to pay for Lisa and her family to go to Disneyland Paris but she refused to let us. Lisa wanted the money to go to charity instead, and I think that says it all. She is so selfless; she is an inspiration.”
The fundraiser has already raised more than £1,000 for Make 2nds Count, a national charity supporting women and men living with secondary breast cancer.
“The charity is crying out for cash,” said Lisa, “The money the lads raised is essential. It will really make a difference.”
You can still support the challenge by donating via JustGiving. Find out more about the charity Make 2nds Count.
