Hey guys!

Okay, I like to write in italics 'cause I think they're cool, and 'cause then you can know the difference between what I've written and what's automatically there (the wee bit at the bottom about donating!). Also the stupid 'Fundraising Summary' (under 'Stephen Hogg's page) bit has a 50 character limit, like what on earth?! That's worse than twitter! Anyway, rant over.

So the idea is to run this Waterside Half Marathon on Sunday 9th September. I want to raise some money for Breast Cancer. I want to do something useful with my summer. I want to make a difference. I know it's cliched and all of that, but every pound that we can donate to Breast Cancer Research can and will be used in experiments, tests or trials that can (and I believe will) one day find the cure for breast cancer, and potentially all types of cancer.

I've found a couple of interesting statistics that I suppose make the whole thing seem more real. Nearly 50,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK. That's one every 10 minutes. Each one of those people have family and friends that are affected by their diagnosis.

Just over 12,000 people die from breast cancer each year in the UK. In women under 35, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. I would imagine that most of us are related to, or at least know somebody who is or has been affected by breast cancer. Wouldn't it be magnificent if we could find a cure within the next 5 years?

Now, on to why this charity is near and dear to me. In January 2012, my Mum was offered an early mammogram as she was in her 50th year, despite not turning 50 (when mammograms are normally first offered) until the 11th August 2012. Mum had no reason to expect that anything would come up in the screening, so it came as a massive shock when a diagnosis of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ for my fellow med students :P) arose from the mammogram and resultant biopsies. Mum was very sweet and didn't proceed to tell me until my January exams in Cambridge had finished, so as to keep any stress to a minimum, isn't she adorable? Our family were ludicrously thankful that the diagnosis was so early. 6 weeks of radiotherapy in Belfast were far from ideal, and were tiring for Mum, but just last week she's been given an 'All Clear' of sorts from an oncologist to which we're endlessly grateful for.

 I think cancer's an interesting one. I've had an interesting year - during second term (at the start of which, Mum received her diagnosis) our biochemistry lectures had the theme of cancer. It's definitely the 'bogey man' facing modern medical science, replacing the TB and HIV/AIDS of past decades. It's a very dark condition, it is not induced by any form of pathogen. The cells that cause the problem are cells that our own body generates. It doesn't take very much going wrong at a molecular level within our DNA to lead to a potentially tumour-inducing mutation to occur, and for this mutation to be replicated in cell division. I don't wanna get sucked into all that science banter, it's summer and I don't like using my brain that much :).

I just really feel that it is right and appropriate and proper and noble that I, given the past year, really push to raise money that will further the wonderful and truly poignant work that goes on at Breast Cancer Campaign. It's something that I care about, and it would mean lots if you guys could just give a little to an incredible cause. A cure will come. A cure is coming. Lives will be impacted, and lives will be saved. Let's raise lots guys!! Let's really make a difference!

Thank you all so much!

Much love,

Stephen <3

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