Hi there!

Thank you for joining me in helping to kick Cancer's butt.  Last year saw the start of my rise off the sofa and doing more for Cancer Research UK than donating on a monthly basis.

My friend Kate was to blame for that as she embarked on her personal mission of raising £30,000 for 30 charities in her 30th year by completing 30 events ... crazy!  As it turned out, she wasn't the only crazy person out there and after 12 months, Project30 had raised an incredible £18,000.

Now 2014 is upon us and with another £12,000 still to raise that's where you can help.  My donation page is linked to Project30.  By helping me reach my personal target of £250, you will also be helping Kate reach that £30,000 total.  Awesome!

So, what am I planning this year?  Well I will be running the Colchester Race for Life.  I hate running but I hate cancer even more!  There are more than 200 different types, each with different causes, symptoms and treatments.  CRUK have made some great progress over the years but there’s still so much to do.

Here are some examples of what your donation can do:

• £10 could buy enough glass slides for a scientist to examine 300 tumour samples down a microscope.
• £100 could equip four scientists with a lab coat and a pair of safety goggles. These help protect against harmful chemicals and prevent experiments from getting contaminated.
• £500 could fund one cancer information nurse for four days. Our experienced cancer information nurses provide a confidential service for anyone with concerns about cancer.
• £1,000 could cover the basic costs for ten women to take part in a clinical trial to improve survival for post-menopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.

CRUK are entirely funded by donations from the public, so every pound you donate will make a difference.

I will be coming out of my comfort zone in memory of my Mum and brother Paul, as well as other family and friends that have been taken far too soon and to give hope to those who are still fighting.

Unfortunately due to illness and a cancer scare of my own earlier this year, I have taken the hard decision of doing just one event but all donations will be much-appreciated and if you were kind enough to sponsor me in 2013, thank you and I hope you will be able to show your support once again this year.

Karen xxx

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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