Help to beat cancer.

40% of the UK population will, at some point in their life, get cancer.

Cancer is responsible for 1 in 4 deaths every year.

There are more than 200 different types of cancer, each with different causes and symptoms, requiring different treatments.

Almost all of us will know someone be it a relative, friend or work colleague who has, or has had, cancer.

These are pretty sobering statistics, however the overall death rate from cancer is falling thanks, in no small part, to work by Cancer Research UK.

This September I will be running the Trans Britain Ultra Marathon to raise money for this deserving charity. The event is 6 days of running, covering 156 miles (equivalent to 6 marathons in 6 days).

The race starts in Scotland, takes in the peaks of the Lake District and Yorkshire (Hellvelyn and Pen-y-Ghent to name but two), and finishes in Wales.

It is a multi-stage, largely self-sufficient race. apart from a tent, competitors must carry everything they need to survive for the week, from spare socks, to sleeping bag and everything in between. I’m currently trying to decide just how smelly is acceptable in a bid to reduce the weight I will be carrying!

The race stages are broken up as follows:

Day 1 34 miles; climb 565 metres, descend 465 metres

Day 2 24 miles; climb 892 metres, descend 756 metres

Day 3 20 miles; climb 1628 metres, descend 1812 metres

Day 4 34 miles; climb 1371 metres, descend 1335 metres

Day 5 26 miles; climb 1181 metres, descend 1108 metres

Day 6 18 miles; climb 765 metres, descend 802 metres

Raising money for a worthy charity is a slightly selfish method to help maintain my focus. Any money you can give to help motivate me and, more importantly, provide much needed support to Cancer Research UK, will be greatly appreciated.

Cancer Research UK is the largest single funder of cancer research in the UK and the world's largest charity dedicated to cancer research.

Every year Cancer Research UK spends hundreds of millions of pounds on research into diagnosing, preventing and treating cancer. They are the biggest single independent funder of cancer research in Europe, supporting the work of more than 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses across the UK.