Early July 2012 my little sister Gemma was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer called Burkitt's Lymphoma. The events that followed the next 6 months seemed an emotional blur but in true Hillier and Moses fashion we pulled together and gave my sister the most amazing support she could have to fight it.

I can't even begin to explain the pain to watch someone go through such intense chemotherapy but she just kept fighting. Then in her third cycle of chemotherapy she did the impossible and ran the Great North Run, proving many people wrong!

‘I can, I will and I'm doing this ‘is her moto and this stuck with us all throughout the following months.

With the support from the consultants at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and the cancer ward Gemma is now doing fantastic. However she experienced what a young person had to go through on a adult cancer ward. On Monday 25 February 2013 with the help of the Our Space Appeal a new Young Persons Cancer ward (Ward 27) was opened at the LRI treating children from the ages of 0-24 years old.  

http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/leicester-hospitals-charity/our-space-cancer-appeal/

While my sister was undergoing her first cycle of chemo, I decided I wanted to do something that would help the charity that in the future could help young people like my sister fight cancer. The first challenge that sprung to mind was a Ironman. Those of you that do not know what one is I’ll put it simply as

2 ½ mile swim / 112 mile bike/ 26.1 mile run and that's one after the other!!

Now those of you that know me as a triathlete I have had my fair share of injuries in the past and not only getting round this Ironman is going to be a huge challenge but getting to the start line in one piece is also going to be the even bigger challenge!

So here I am now nearly at the start line with 9 months of training week in week out in the swim, bike and run . Every training session in the freezing cold, every long run where my legs are screaming at me I just have to remember this end goal and the money I want to try and raise on behalf of my sister for the OurSpace appeal.

I really appreciate every single penny that you donate and it will all go towards making a huge difference to young people being treated for and living with cancer in Leicestershire. The support of everyone (friends, family, doctors, nurses) who have been involved in looking after my sister has been truly amazing and I want to thank everyone for this!

Now its my turn to put myself on the line in this Ironman and try and raise as much money for the Our Space Appeal as I can.