I was 11 when I first heard about cancer, my beautiful friend Julie died on the 1st of October of what should have been the start of our second year at the big school.

She had been off school ill most of the summer term, of our first year in the big school, so I hadn't seen her much before she died, but I still remember the last time we played together that summer during the holidays. 

I can't remember all of the circumstances but we were both at our friend Richard's house who's mum was out, so for some reason we all decided it was a brilliant idea to pile loads of cushions and duvets and pillows at the bottom of the stairs and then proceeded to spend the afternoon flinging ourselves from the top of the stairs to the bottom, it was hilarious, in my memory we were doing back flips from the banisters but maybe that's just how happy we all were that afternoon!

I don't know if many 11 year old's get to do things like that anymore or even want to... but we had a hysterical time and I was really lucky to have that really joyful summers day to remember her by, as it was only a few months later I attended my first funeral...hers, she was buried only two days later on Friday the 3rd of October, it was all so surreal, to this day I still remember her often.

She was and still is in mine and everyone who was fortunate to have met her's memory  an amazing person, so clever, bright, beautiful and kind and made such an impact to so many people's lives in such a short time, and I am a better person for having had the privilege to have met her, she made a huge impact in such a short time.

I remember the sunset that night she died, I remember standing in my bedroom in Belfast looking over the back of the king's hall to the mountains, where the sun was setting, it was blood red it was amazing and I always always think of her when I see an out of this world sunset, I think it's her calling card, and particularly at this time of year her anniversary.  

So it is particularly fitting that October is Cancer Awareness Month. I was 11 the first time I heard about cancer but unfortunately it was not the last time.

We all raised money for cancer research that year at my school, particularly my year and my class, quite fanatically to a certain point, I think that we were all felt so helpless and useless against such a pointless disease, we would do anything we could to be constructive.  

We all have been touched by cancer and unfortunately still will but if you have chance to please do anything you can to raise funds for supporting cancer charities I urge you ..and togther we can all make a difference to finding away to manage these little dividing cells that can divide us from our loved ones and the lives we deserve to live.

On Tuesday the 23rd of October our stables have their annual sponsored ride to raise funds for The Royal Marsden - Cancer Research, this year I am taking part, and it would be great if you are able to sponsor me, if you can donate whatever you can to our fundraising it would be so gratefully received and it all will go to this amazing cause that hopefully with our support, every day is a step closer to taking away the pain and the grief that cancer causes, fundraising gives us the chance to honour those that have left us and show them that though they have gone they aren't forgotten, and that everything they ever touched in life carries on in us to make a difference to others' lives too, and through the work at The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity the diagnosis, the treatment, the caring, the education, the research... really the full package leads to an opportunity to gain a greater understanding  of how a rogue message in a cell that just gets a little bit carried away, but that has such a huge snowball and avalanche effect, that one day very soon we'll have a way of having a much more gentle and productive way of dealing with them and the devastation they cause and stop them in their tracks before the damage is irreversible.  

They say cancer affects one in three of us, I don't know how that is true... I can't imagine anyone who isn't affected by cancer so please let's do as much as we can I can't think of anything else that everyone has in common and especially for such sad reasons so please help/contribute/fundraise wherever you can, I couldn't bear to even count how many of my friends and family and their families have left us far too early, but each and everyone of you has made such an impact on us and me, that you have to go on and do as much as you can and carry on being the best you can be thanks to them.

Many thanks in advance,

Angela Murphy

It is the 37th year that Caroline and Carol have organised this Annual Charity Ride which is the longest running, most successful ride in the UK.  Over the years we have raised in excess of £500,000 for various local and national charities and once again they will be supporting the excellent work carried out by the Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign.Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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. 

Many thanks again and to all the people who are donating their time and to Wimbledon Village Stables for organising this long standing and special event.

Angela Murphy

Ps that photo is a Murphy on top of a barrel sized Guinness!! - God Bless his Soul!