I apologise for this being a bit of an essay, but I really appreciate you taking the time to read it...

Maybe I'm mad, because a) I can't currently run for more than about 100 metres before passing out, and b) I know the Abbey Dash is supposed to be for Age UK

BUT, in just over a year, I've lost three, incredibly important people to me, to cancer.

Last September, Shelagh, an amazing woman, lost her fight with ovarian cancer. She was an incredibly charitable lady, who did so much for her community and the people around her, including my mum, who she'd been a best friend to for years.

After, beating cancer more times than I can count, in April, bowel cancer won, and took the life of my Nanna. I don't think I will ever meet another person that has gone through what she had, yet still remained strong and fighting until the very end. She loved all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren so much, and she was devastated that she never got to meet Ronnie, the newest arrival in the family.

And last December, exactly a year since we lost my uncle to a sudden heart attack, Pat, my ex child minder, 'second mum', and all time fave, lost her battle with Pancreatic cancer. She was diagnosed whilst her husband was being treated for prostate cancer. The whole time, being more concerned with how everyone else was feeling about it, just shows what a kind, caring and loving woman she was. I can honestly say, that my sister, mum and me, wouldn't be where we are today without the love, care and support Pat has shown us over the years.

Despite being affected by so many different kinds of cancer, I had to choose just one charity.

40 years ago, few children survived childhood leukemia, today the figure is 80%. 40 years ago 46% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survived 5 or more years, today the figure is also 80%. 40 years ago, 3% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survived 5 or more years. Today the figure is still 3%.

Pancreatic cancer is the 11th most common cancer in the UK, yet it's the 4th biggest killer for women and 5th for men, with a 5 year survival rate of just 3%. Symptom-less in the early stages, it's very difficult to detect, and even more difficult to treat. Despite these stats, it's one of the least talked about and funded forms of cancer.

For this reason, I had to choose pancreatic cancer, to raise as much money and awareness as I possibly could. So please, please donate what you can, as it would mean the world to me, and I can't back out once you've given me all your money.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.