I'm running the 2019 Cardiff University/Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday 6th October.

12 months before, I completed the Cardiff Half Marathon 2018 in 1:54:41. A good time, I was pleased with it. Since then my world has been turned upside down, and this year I run for two incredible women very close to my heart. For them I will beat last year, and aim to get as close as I can to my Bristol Half PB of 1:47 (set 11 years and 2 stone ago...)

The first of the events that rocked my world involved my Aunt Hilary. In Autumn 2018, as part of a routine colonoscopy at the age of 55, something suspicious was noticed. Soon after, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Bowel cancer. She was an amazing woman. She was a mother, a wife, a cook (understatement), a healer, working on her second degree level qualification, an athlete (shortly after diagnosis she completed the two-mile Serpentine Swim in 1:13:20 after already completing the London-Surrey 100 mile ride that summer), a friend to many, a beautiful smile in the evening light. I signed up to run the Cardiff Half for Cancer Research at Cardiff University on 7th May 2019, to run it for Hilary. Sadly, despite fighting hard every step of the way, on the 30th June Hilary passed away.

11 days later, my incredible wife Chloe was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer at the age of 28. We are lucky; it has been caught early, and given time, Chloe will come through the other side. Chloe has been my rock the last 9 years; we've been through a lot together. We have laughed, loved, cried, travelled, got a small bouncy dog, bought a house, played a lot of hockey, cwtched. She has been there for me through thick and thin; now its my turn to do something for her.

Chloe is lucky enough to have been enrolled on a clinical trial. The treatment available through the trial offers Chloe a better chance, and we are so lucky to have been able to access it. Research undertaken into the fight against cancer is the only way to increase the chances of everyone unfortunate enough to be diagnosed. Cardiff University does incredible work in the field - it is a very worthwhile cause.

I have a very personal connection with Cardiff University's research programme now. The trial Chloe is enrolled on is part run by Cardiff University. So the money raised here, will in some small way go directly into funding Chloe's treatment. Please, help me to help her, and by helping her, potentially help countless others.