STAN Porter never got to see his granddaughter grow up.
Megan Housley was just ten when the 66-year-old lost his battle with bladder cancer in 2004.
Next year she will graduate from university, where she has been studying to become a teacher.
"It would have meant the world if he could have seen it," said Megan, 20, through tears, who spent every spare moment with her granddad.
"He would have been so proud. Mum always used to say I was his favourite.
"I still miss him so much."
Mr Porter, of Leicestershire, was diagnosed with the disease in 2002.
Although an operation to remove the tumour initially seemed to be a success, further tests discovered the cancer had spread.
He went through chemotherapy to try to prolong his life but died in 2004 aged 66.
His daughter, and Megan's mum, Sharon Housley, 45, worked hard to make sure he saw as much of his grandchildren as possible while he was being treated.
"It was heartbreaking," said Sharon. "At one stage we thought the tumours had stopped growing for a couple of months but then it came back with a vengeance.
"They just loved him so much. They spent so much time with him when they were growing up. They were almost like second parents.
"When I think back they did get upset but I think they really kept us going as well."
Sharon and Megan, who has two brothers, will run the Race For Life in honour of Mr Porter. The pair have had T-shirts made for the occasion which each show a favourite picture of him.
There is no doubt in Sharon's mind that he will be looking down on the whole thing.
"It upsets me at times to think what he would say if he could see his grandchildren now because he would be so chuffed," she said.
"He has other grandchildren too, including two he never met, and he would be so proud.
"This is just something I want to do in his memory. We think about him every day but we want him to look down on us and be able to show him we think about him every day.
"It's also to raise money so other families don't have to go through what we have because they are developing cures all the time."
Megan and Sharon, of Bagthorpe, will join nearly 5,000 other women to take part in the Race For Life at the Victoria Embankment.
The 5k race can be walked, jogged, or run.
Sharon added: "We will cross the finish line together for my dad however we do it."
In Nottingham last year 8,500 women took part in Race for Life and raised more than £450,000 for cancer research.
All money raised will help Cancer Research UK's doctors, nurses and scientists make advances in research which will help more men, women and children survive cancer.
Hana Lawson, 23, of Beechdale, will be completing the race – despite having just had surgery.
"I'm taking part on Sunday, running with my daughter who is four," she said.
"We are running for family members that have lost their fight with cancer, those still fighting and survivors still going strong.
"I had surgery on Wednesday but will still be taking part as my pain is nothing compared to theirs.
"Hopefully the money we raise will help someone with their fight."
