On Sunday, 18 March, 2018, I am running the Reading Half Marathon.

Those of you who know me, know that I am not a runner (by any stretch of the imagination) but that I am determined, love a challenge, and have found a cause that gets me out of bed with my Nikes on when I am tempted by Netflix and pizza.

That reason is my friend, 13 year old Matty Wood.

In late 2017, after weeks of headaches, pain and weightloss, Matty was diagnosed with an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma tumour, a rare type of soft-tissue cancer at the base of his skull behind his ear. Matty has started a treatment plan that will involve chemotherapy to start and likely to include surgeries and radiotherapy at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, and may take as long as 12 months to complete.

Matty and his mother have temporarily relocated to Australia while he undergoes treatment, which is especially tough year as his family of three big brothers, Jackson, William and Charlie are in Hanoi where his father's work is also based.

In addition to being separated from his immediate family, there are added high costs of living and treatment related expenditures, which are adding up. My decision to raise money for the half marathon was to do what I can to help and support my friend in his time of need, and hope you can too.

Matt's mom Pippa was like family to me when I lived in Hanoi. She, her husband and four sons, welcomed me into their home and lives with open arms- and Matty, who was six when I met him-was like little a brother. I watched grow from a sweet, curious, kind, generous, and very tolerant little boy into a smart, thoughtful, introspective, creative, kind teenager...though he does slightly wince when I make my OTT uncool public declarations of how awesome he is :)

I'd like to raise £2,800 (which is $5,000 Australian/$4000 USD) but every bit helps. No donation is too small, and every penny given will be sent directly to Matty's family.