18 years ago I ran the London Marathon and the following year (aged 28) my world turned upside-down when I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. I had 9 months of treatment (placed on a clinical trial) at the Royal Marsden, and very fortunately the tumour disappeared. I then became the first patient on another clinical trial where I avoided the previous protocol of having a major operation (with serious consequences), and was closely monitored by the amazing staff at the Marsden. My huge gratitude also to the Pelican Cancer Foundation led by Prof Bill Heald and Brendan Moran - the preeminent cancer surgeons - who recommended me to join the trial and worked in partnership with the Marsden.

The care and treatment I received was simply exemplary and I'm incredibly grateful to all the staff that work tirelessly to provide the very best for their patients.

Their ground-breaking research, and treatment most probably saved my life.  Remarkably, after 9 months of treatment (including chemotherapy and radiotherapy) I went back to normality, with no side effects. I feel totally blessed to have then married Anna followed by 3 beautiful children - I was advised during treatment that having children would be v unlikely.

Giving money to the Royal Marsden ensures their nurses, doctors and research teams can provide the very best care and develop life-saving treatments, which are used across the UK and around the world. 

Please give generously to the Royal Marsden. We have smashed our £10,000 target and the Marsden say if we can reach £42,500 it will allow them to purchase a new state-of-art mobile operating table!

I’m running the Marathon also in memory of my amazing father, Mike Parnell, who died peacefully at the Marsden, 24 Dec 2009, and having been looked after so well during his brave battle with cancer.