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On 30 October I will be taking part in the 2010 Snowdonia Marathon. I've done various other races before but this will be my first full-length marathon. Hopefully I haven't set myself too much of a 'mountain to climb' - it isn't the flattest of courses, after all....

Running this marathon is a good opportunity for me to raise money for Cancer Research UK. This organisation is the world's leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research. People's chances of surviving cancer have doubled in the last forty years - however, one in three of us will still get cancer at some point. Cancer Research UK's work, which is entirely funded by the public, is vital in ensuring that millions more people will survive.

I also have a personal interest in the continuing advances in research into beating cancer. My Mam has leukaemia and a few months ago began chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. She is doing fairly well and is being very brave and stoical about it all - but it's still upsetting to see how ill and tired she is at the moment. Apart from visiting her regularly and helping her wherever possible, raising money for Cancer Research UK seems to me the best way that I can help to make a difference for her.

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So please dig deep and donate now.