This will be my 9th Race For Life.

I ran my first Race For Life in 2005 with "Grannybond" written on my back, in memory of my incredible Grandma who died of breast cancer on 21 December 2004.  In the last 5 years, I have also written "Auntie Jackie" onto that infamous back sheet...full of pride for an incredible woman who beat cancer twice.  However, Auntie Jackie couldn't beat the disease a third time, and also died of cancer on 12 March this year age just 47.

I have an incredible family, extended family and group of friends.  There are many people in my life who mean everything to me...and when statistics say that 1 in 3 of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during our lifetime, I can't believe how many of the amazing people around me are likely to suffer.

I am by no means a natural athlete or sportswoman.  I chose music over PE at school, and left my kit on the bus (on purpose - sorry Mum) many times! When I ran my first Race For Life, I'd only been in the gym to pose about in the jacuzzi, and not shown any interest in kind of training.  

However, as I've got older, pushing myself to physical extreme has started to feel like a fitting tribute to those who have endured some of the ultimate suffering, and in 2013 I took on the ultimate challenge and ran the London Marathon for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.  Seven months of hard training in the longest, coldest winter...eventually raising £6,100 and finishing in 4hrs 50mins.

TOGETHER, WE WILL BEAT CANCER.

We have to.

<3