For anyone who knows me, I enjoy a beer and a takeaway a little too much. Whilst I may run a 5k most weeks, I'm far from in a presentable state at the end of it, so the idea of running the London Marathon is both exciting but also very daunting.

That being said, I have a compelling reason to run - my mum.

Whilst I'm sure we've all heard ‘one in two will get cancer in their lifetime’, nothing can truly prepare you for the news of a loved one getting diagnosed with cancer, and to those who have also had to experience that, my heart goes out to you. Early into lockdown of 2020, my mum noticed a small new lump appear on her thigh which she had swiftly removed. Tests were run and we got the news no one ever wants to hear, it was cancerous. Within days of the diagnosis, the NHS ran more tests to see if it has spread to anywhere else, it had. Her lungs, brain and kidneys all had signs of cancer, with her kidney’s by far the worst. The doctors were amazed she had showed no symptoms as based on the size of the tumour and the known growth rates, they think she had a tumour growing inside her for nearly six years and that it was very unlikely to get to seven years, if you catch my drift.

Within a week of spotting it, our incredible NHS removed her kidney and a few months later things started to get better. She’s now accepted the fact she's to spend the rest of her life living with cancer but it wasn't easy. She now manages her health with a regimented lifestyle, a very strict diet, she’ll never have alcohol again and she will also receive check-ups every six months for the rest of her life, but importantly she’s on the mend and one of the lucky ones, there are so many times it doesn't go that way. If you've ever met my mum and know her sense of humor, she now chuckles at the thought that getting skin cancer actually saved her life.

Whatever pain and suffering I will experience whilst training/running this marathon, it will pale in insignificance to what she and so many cancer sufferers have to go through both physically and mentally. So by doing this I hope to do two things; one, raise a shed-load of money for the World Cancer Research Fund, an incredible charity funding life-saving research focused on people living with cancer and how we can all help reduce the chances of it happening to ourselves, and two, encourage you to check your body for any abnormal lumps, bumps or moles which appear on which weren't always there, you never know, it might save your life.

Thank you for taking the time to read my page, whether you donate or not, I appreciate you reading my story.