In September last year my school friend Abi was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a blood cancer which caused a large 11cm tumour to develop in her chest. The cancer is a particularly stubborn and aggressive form of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and has been resistant to two rounds of chemotherapy. She is currently on a different third type of chemo to shrink the tumour. When this treatment has finished she then faces either radiotherapy, drug therapy, or both to send the cancer into remission. This will then enable her to have a stem-cell transplant – hopefully her cure.

Despite all the adversity Abi has faced she has remained positive and reflective throughout, using her passion for music to help fight the disease. When you speak to Abi you can’t help but be infected by her strong passion, energy, and desire to use her experiences to help others and enhance awareness. She is an amazing singer/songwriter and has taken part in numerous charity fundraising events, the most recent being her performance on the live YouTube Stand Up To Cancer event – following which she was then in hospital 2.5 hours later for her chemo treatment; truly an incredible woman!

Reading her raw and wonderfully written blog about her experiences: https://abiflynncancerblog.wordpress.com has inspired me and left me in awe – I’d encourage you to please read and share the link.

My aim is to raise as much as I can for Abi to help fund her treatment, therapies, and transport costs as she has been unable to perform and therefore earn during each round of treatment, so she can focus on her recovery. To encourage people to donate I have decided to take on two challenges. On the 23rd September I will be taking on Tough Mudder – a 20km military-style obstacle course with obstacles ranging from ice pools to electrocution (I’m hoping not at the same time!). And on the 8th October I will be running the Oxford Half Marathon.

Over the last month I have become more nervous about completing them, especially Tough Mudder as I lack muscular strength! But as Abi has said in her blog “you should face fear and pain, not resist them”.

No matter how small, all donations will be greatly appreciated. Thank you x