We all lead busy lives, so I'd like to thank you in advance for taking the time to visit this page and for reading my message below.

Anyone who knows my mum will tell you that she is a woman with a big heart who explores life, has huge amounts of courage and a fire in her belly.  I thank her for influencing and shaping my life in the wonderful way she has.

I remember very vividly the day that my mum had the very difficult task of telling me that she had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.  I can not imagine how hard it must be to tell your loved ones and children this news. This is why with your help I'd like, not only to raise money for research and medical advancements, but more importantly awareness of this type of disease. 

Many people, myself included, have run the cancer research 5k race for life; an even which takes place annually in locations across the UK.  And here I am again asking you for your support, for one very good reason:

Unlike many other forms of cancer, Bowel cancer, and bowel disease in general isn't a subject which is often brought up in conversation...when was the last time the topic cropped up over your dinner table?  This is something which needs to change in order to increase understanding, encourage people seek medical advice and remove the embarrassment many people feel.

The earlier people spot the symptoms and receive treatment, the better their chances of recovery.  Hopefully in the future a parent having to tell their child the news won't be such a daunting task.

My family and I are the lucky ones, my mum won her battle and we all feel very fortunate to still have this lovely lady our lives.  Unfortunately there are many people out there who have lost those they hold dear, but with your help we can give hope to people and their families who are diagnosed in the future.

If you need an added incentive to encourage you to donate to this very worthy charity, I will be earning myself a few extra blisters and a couple of aching legs when I walk London's 12k Tasmin Trail on 20th September.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

Thank you!