A while ago someone very close and important to me went through the ordeal of cancer. Upon diagnosis, they were given approximately a 30% chance of survival. Yet thanks to the almost inconceivable efforts of the doctors and the wonders of modern medicine, they are still here with us today.

The horrible reality is that the same statistic - 30%, or approximately 1 in 3, is also the same number of us in the UK who will, during our lifetime, contract cancer of one form or another, and unfortunately every year over 150,000 people in the UK aren't so lucky. Just stop for a second and consider that. One in three.

We all know someone, or of someone, who has endured cancer. It may be a parent, a child, or a sibling. Maybe an aunt, a great-uncle, a second cousin, an old school mate, a work colleague or a friend-of-a-friend. Whoever they may be, there is no escaping the reality of this disease, and the reality of its impact upon so many families and lives across the country every day.

But there is hope, and Cancer Research UK is leading the fightback. The charity supports the work of over 4000 doctors, scientists and nurses in both understanding the causes of the disease, and investigating how to best prevent, diagnose and treat it. There’s no cure for cancer yet – but one day there will, and your money will go directly towards the groundbreaking research to uncover it.

The University of Birmingham is also playing its role, too. The University was the first to be awarded Cancer Research UK Centre status, with its research into breast cancer reducing deaths by more than 30%. The School of Cancer Studies at the University also hosts the Clinical Trials Unit, one of the largest Trials Units in the country for the development and monitoring of cancer clinical trials.

The work of these organisations makes me feel unbelievably proud to be running 13 miles across Birmingham for the University and Cancer Research UK in two weeks’ time. In 2009 you helped me raise £1000 for Cancer Research UK to fight bowel cancer and this time around I'm hoping to contribute at least £500 towards the University of Birmingham's team target of £4650.

 

Please, please do your part and join this fight too - do it for that relative, do it for that old school teacher, do it for that colleague – whoever they may be, we all know someone who has been affected and every single pound counts. Even just a pound or two – the price of something every day and inconspicuous like a sandwich or bus fare – will help in fighting this horrible disease. It's so easy to donate - either online on this page, or by texting BRUM99 £X to 70070, e.g. if you wished to donate £5 you would text BRUM99 £5 to 70070.

Thank you so much for your generous support,

 

James

*The University of Birmingham is hoping to raise £4650 for Cancer Research UK - you can follow their progress here: #mce_temp_url#*

 

*UPDATE - thanks to your incredible generosity my initial target of £500 was met within the first 24 hours! As such the target has been revised to £750; please keep on donating, every pound counts and really will make a difference. Thank you!*