On Saturday 23rd March, I will be taking part in my first ever skydive with the CEO of Bowel Cancer UK, Deborah Alsina, to raise money in memory of my friend James who lost his battle to bowel cancer at the age of just 28.

James was an energetic and adventurous guy who spent time travelling and keeping fit through running, swimming and surfing. He was always up for a road trip or trying new things and I like to think that he's probably laughing at me somewhere for jumping out of a plane!!

I met Deborah over Twitter in 2012 when I first started fundraising for her charity by running the Edinburgh Marathon, Great North Run, the Workshop Half Marathon, Paddling 22 miles on a surfboard and walking the Great Wall of China with my brother Pete and our friends Lee and Sophie!

Deborah is spending 2013 trying to raise awareness of bowel cancer, and is particularly keen to get under 50's diagnosed quicker. Obviously, this is something I am very keen to support her with as I believe that part of the delay with young people getting diagnosed is being embarassed by the symptoms and not talking about it. Bowel Cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the UK but if caught early enough it is fully treatable.

The tandem skydive will take place in Swindon and we are hoping to get some media coverage for the event. Please feel free to come along and show you support!

As well as the skydive, I will be running the Sheffield Half Marathon on Sunday 12th May, and the 10k Race for Life in Norwich on Saturday 18th May (with my awesome mum!).

All donations and support are greatly appreciated and every penny will go towards Bowel Cancer UK. Between all of James' friends and family, we have raised a whopping £11,430.95 in his memory so I'm hoping to get our collective total up to £12,000 by raising £569.05!

If you would like to know more about bowel cancer and the symptoms, please visit the Bowel Cancer UK website.

Thank you so much for your support!

Niki

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