If you have ended up on this page, you must have got word that I am running the London Marathon in April 2024 for World Cancer Research. It has always been on my bucket list and this year is the year I tick it off. I am terrified to say the least but I am ready for the challenge and blisters that come with it. 

I want to run the London Marathon to say thank you to World Cancer Research and show my overwhelming gratitude for the work that they do - I am one of the lucky ones. In September 2017, my Mum was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system, after discovering a lump on her neck. As soon as I heard the 'C' word, my heart shattered. It really is true - it does get the best. Although the cancer was incurable, it could be managed by targeted treatments to destroy the cancer cells. My Mum soon underwent chemotherapy. This was hard, watching someone you love in so much pain and so sick. Accompanying her to chemotherapy, I saw just how amazing the nurses were. They chatted away, doing everything they could to make the patients comfortable and most importantly, regularly supplying them with sandwiches and biscuits. My Mum completed 6 months of chemotherapy before a break. She fought various infections before the cancer stabilised. And then Covid came… Considered vulnerable and high-risk, I didn't see my Mum for 4 months - we were so careful. Unfortunately, my Mum caught Covid twice. On both occasions, she was offered an infusion of antibodies to prevent the risk of becoming seriously unwell from it, which it did. My Mum continues to be the funniest and craziest woman we all know and that is thanks to the ongoing research that is done to develop treatments and drugs which have enabled her to continue living a healthy life. The treatment and drugs she has been offered have kept her safe in what was a scary time for the world. Throughout the last 5 years, I have not heard as much as a complaint from her and she has continued to approach life from a glass half full perspective. So I want to run the London Marathon for my Mum because I am so proud and in awe of her every day and want to show just how much she has taught me about what a 'can do' mindset can achieve (and hopefully that's getting further than down the road without stopping and blaming it on my very mild asthma). 

We may not be where we want to be with cancer research, but each donation moves us a step closer. Please help me reach my fundraising goal, any donation is greatly appreciated and will spur me on even more. There's no turning back now eek.

Love Fi xx

While society continues to search for a cure, the work World Cancer Research is doing in prevention and survival is helping people to live longer, happier and healthier lives – free from the devastating effects of cancer.