Thanks for supporting my fundraising. Macmillan gives people with cancer everything they’ve got. If you’re diagnosed, your worries are Macmillan’s worries. 

My own story here has two parts, both personal. Macmillan supported me when, 10 years ago, I was struggling to copy with my partner's cancer diagnosis. Back then day to day seemed like one impossible challenge after another and in the first week after the news that phone call of support was huge for me. I know everyday people get that message which causes the ground to shake. Helping hands at those moments really, really count.

The second is about running and my own wellbeing. After 3 years of severe anxiety and some very bad lows, and lots of ultimately unsuccessful medical solutions, I have come to the point that the running is the most effective response to the symptoms. It's not the only part of my self care routine for sure and here let me cheer for my fantastic therapists out there, but I have rediscovered something I knew when I was very young. I am both an active person and a person who needs to remain active. It is part of my daily life and I must be vigilant to remain motivated to do it. Now I run, bike or stretch every day. The training plan, the stages, are all part of keeping me motivated with the next challenge.

So I've wrapped those self interested reasons around interest for others. The ego is there for sure but hopefully I can drive it to do some good for others. Maybe sharing this detail is also part of that good for others. I know the head stuff is still something folk find har to open up about.