For those who know me well, "Ed Colston", and "running a marathon" would not be words you'd hear uttered in the same breath. However, 2019 was a year of change, and great challenge for me…...

I first saw my GP in early January, after noticing a lump in the back of my right knee, and subsequently underwent months of tests and scans at various hospitals across London. In June, I was diagnosed with cancer – a soft tissue sarcoma. Thankfully it had not spread and within a couple of weeks I had the sarcoma successfully removed by the fantastic surgeons at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore. I will remain under observation until 2029.

Sarcoma is a very rare type of cancer, and one I knew nothing about. This made having to deal with the diagnosis even harder, but Sarcoma UK were on hand to provide support and information to help me come to terms with my illness.  Sarcoma UK is a national charity that funds vital research, offers support for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer and campaigns for better treatment. It is a difficult cancer to diagnose and one of the hardest to treat.

I had always been adamant that I would never run a marathon, but having got through my operation and rehab, I have been inspired to give back, and to set myself the challenge of running the London Marathon, for Sarcoma UK. I was due to run the 2020 edition, but a combination of a pandemic and then surgery prevented me from participating until now!

I am very aware of the many charitable requests you receive and so I will be hugely grateful for any donation , no matter how small. Your donation will help researchers find answers, keep the support lines open, and raise awareness of sarcoma.

If you would like to follow my running progress then please follow me on: https://www.strava.com/athletes/20827767 or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edcolston/

Thank you all for taking the time to read about my story, and for your support. 

Ed x