Instead of running my usual 5K this summer, I'm raising the stakes and running a half marathon! Whilst the very thought of running so much makes me feel very anxious, I'm excited to have a new challenge now to help raise more money for charity. This year I've chosen to run the Edinburgh Half Marathon to raise money for Macmillan.

Macmillan is a charity that aims to support and help those with cancer as well as their families, making it a cause very close to my heart. Cancer is something that has had a very big impact on my entire life, with my mum being diagnosed with cancer when I was just 4 and proceeding to battle cancer for the next 8 years until she passed away when I was 12. In 2015, my aunty also lost her life to cancer. I've seen the effect that such a horrible disease can have on those who are ill, but also have felt the effects of it on my own life through dealing with the stress and sadness and anxiety that such an illness causes for the loved ones too. I wouldn't have been able to get through all those hard and horrible times without the support that was shown to me by friends and family but also by nurses and those that cared for my mum. I hope that by running this half marathon and hopefully raising plenty of money that I can help Macmillan offer this vital support to those who are also dealing with the effects of cancer either personally or on someone they know. I'd appreciate any amount of support to run this, no matter how big or small :)

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.Fundraising is hugely important to Macmillan. Without people doing events, running marathons, climbing mountains, and donating in all the other ways that you can, Macmillan wouldn’t exist.Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs.