Cancer Research UK have put together this small piece to let you know why I am doing the Marathon in 2012.............

Tom has set himself an incredible marathon challenge, just months after being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing several rounds of treatment.

He went to the doctor with a lump on his neck and further tests revealed he had tonsil cancer, which had spread to the throat.

The diagnosis came in October 2010, when his partner Sam was six months pregnant with their first child.

After recovering from a series of surgical procedures, Tom started eight weeks of radiotherapy treatment in February 2011. And over a weekend break from the radiotherapy in March, Sam was induced and gave birth to Ollie.

Tom has always been active, playing rugby league along with many other sports. His job is also sport related, as he works as a Rugby League Development Officer. However, he is the first to admit he has not done much running.

But after getting up with Ollie early one Sunday morning in April, he found himself watching the London marathon on TV and being inspired to set himself the goal of taking part in 2012 in aid of Cancer Research UK.

“I feel I have been treated so well, I wanted to set the target of doing it,” he said. “Cancer Research is a great charity and I want to raise money to help all those people who have been or may be affected by cancer in the future!”

He wants to show friends and family how far he has come, but also knows what a challenge he has set himself.

“I am feeling quite tired at the moment, but my doctors and nurses are happy with me doing it as long as I keep on feeling ok, and it has given me something to really focus on.”

Tom is still being monitored and may require further treatment, but doctors were pleased with the results from the initial scans following the radiotherapy treatment.

This is going to be an amazing challenge so please give generously to support Tom and help raise as much as possible for this worthy cause.