Back in 2018 I ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise money for a great charity, Mummy's Star.

Having tried to get a place in The London Marathon for many years, I finally obtained entry to this year's event being held on 2nd October! So, this year my goal is to raise as much needed funds for this amazing charity as I tackle what I consider to be the greatest test in anyone's running career let alone mine. I will also be completing The Big Half on 4th September as a warm up.

Mummy's Star was founded by a gentleman named Pete, that found himself in the very same position my family and I did in 2016. His wife Mair was diagnosed with breast cancer whilst pregnant. Very sadly his wife passed away a couple of months after giving birth to their second child.

In April 2016 at just over 17 weeks pregnant and with a 1 year old, my wife was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Luckily she found it in time and at an early stage. At 20 weeks pregnant she had to undergo general anaesthetic for a mastectomy which was scary but of course necessary. Between having the scan and biopsy to having the operation (2 weeks later) another lump had already started to grow. The doctors were fantastic and were confident it was all taken away.

After the operation came 3 rounds of chemotherapy. Our daughter Laila was born perfectly healthy at 37 weeks at the request of doctors so that my wife could have the last 3 rounds of chemotherapy.

We are very lucky that we had such wonderful, supportive family and friends to help us through a difficult time. Cancer, as some of you will unfortunately know can happen to anyone of us at any time. So please make sure if you think something isn't right get it checked out straight away.

My personal target for the day will be to get over the finishing line which will be an achievement although the competitive side in me wants to do this in under 4 hours 15 mins if I am injury free on the day.

In Mair's memory this wonderful charity is there to help and support family's going through cancer during and/or after pregnancy just like my family. We only wish that we had found this charity during our journey with pregnancy and cancer.

Thank you for reading our story and I hope that you feel you can donate to this worthy charity (no matter how small or large the donation is... it will be much appreciated).

Thank You

Gavin

www.mummysstar.org