Leanne, Laura and Danielle are raising money for http://www.oldmillfoundation.co.uk/ by running their first ever half marathon in February 2018 - The Llanelli Half

One person, in particular, I love like a sister is my best friend Jess. We have a really easygoing friendship, in that we don't expect anything from each other, and love each other dearly, which means we always see the best in each other. She makes me feel like the person I want to be and somehow manages to see something good in me even when I'm at my worst. This unconditional friendship is something I truly cherish, and only one other person has ever made me feel that good, My Nanny Olive who died when I was 14 (and who I think about every day).

Jess isn't one to text and call, which is good because neither am I. But I remember one day this summer having a few missed calls off her and thinking something must be up. I managed to ring her back, only to hear the devastating news that makes you go cold, her boyfriend had cancer.

It's strange being on the outer circle of a crisis. You feel for the people involved even though you're not direct family. You feel guilty for being able to go home and switch off from it. When you laugh at something funny you have a pang of guilt because you wonder how they're feeling right that moment. You even feel guilty for feeling sad and crying about it, because after all, it's not happening to you; 'pull yourself together and stop being so self-centred!'

You also feel helpless. There must be SOMETHING you can do! Food parcels? Well wishes? It's hard to know what's overstepping the mark. And the last thing you want to do is bombard them, but you also desperately want to help in any way you can.

This is what lead to her cousin, sister and myself signing up for Llanelli half marathon. 

They had found the help from a local cancer support centre really useful, so her cousin and sister decided to raise money for them, and I joined in.

It's called the Old Mill Foundation and offers emotional support, as well as complimentary holistic therapies to help get them through the grueling cancer treatments at the hospital.

I'm not a great runner, at all! I get bored and struggle to keep running continuously. Little did I know a half marathon is in fact just over 13 miles! When you think about how far that is it seems daunting, especially for a novice like myself. But when I'm struggling to keep going, am tired aching and soaking wet from having to train in the rain I remind myself of what they're having to go through.

I am privileged that I can go out for a run whenever I want and am healthy enough to be able to do so, and if I had just an ounce of strength that Darren has shown so far I would have nothing to worry about. This is what gets me through the training, and keeps me going to the ultimate goal of raising money for the great centre, and completing the half marathon.

I am so incredibly proud of all the strength My best friend Jess and her now Fiance Darren have shown throughout these past few months. They are truly inspirational and I love them dearly.

So we would be absolutely honoured if you would donate to our justgiving page to help us raise money for The Old Mill Foundation, and also to give me extra incentive to get through it!