Cancer is a terrible disease that in some way affects us all.

Like millions of others, my family was struck by cancer a couple of years ago. Both my mum and my uncle - her twin brother - lost their lives to advanced cancer within a few months of each other.

My family's story is by no means extraordinary but, having seen my loved ones go through the worst of times, I hope my fundraising triathlon challenge will make a difference to others.

I am taking on a worryingly tough Olympic distance triathlon with around 5,000 amateurs on Sunday June 12 as part of the Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds weekend.

The event includes a 1.5km open water swim through Roundhay's Waterloo Lake, a 41.5km bike ride from Roundhay to Leeds city centre and a 10km run through the city.

With the help of a Leeds City Council Bodyline Premier gym membership and Go Tri training sessions, I have committed to regular training in the hope I'll be able to complete the race this summer.

There is one big problem - I'm no good at swimming. I wont sugar coat it, I'm extremely nervous, but if I'm writing about the triathlon in my role at the Yorkshire Evening Post and Yorkshire Post, I've surely got to give it a go myself.

I'm writing regular training blogs, which are being published both in the YEP and at yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, and you can also follow my progress by following @JonnyBrownYEP on Twitter.

The reason I've chosen to support the Maggie's charity through my fundraising is because of my personal experiences of seeing loved ones, particularly my mum, battle with cancer.

She was an incredibly brave and dignified woman despite the fact that she struggled every day with secondary breast cancer and had, in my view, limited support outside of hospital.

Maggie's is an independent charity which runs more than a dozen beautiful cancer support centres yards from cancer units at major hospitals across the country.

The charity has recently teamed up with the YEP for the A Million for Maggie's campaign to make dreams of a £5million Maggie's Yorkshire centre, which would be based at Leeds St James's Hospital, a reality.

I've actually visited their Newcastle centre and seen the stunning architecture, home-from-home atmosphere and the free practical, social and emotional support they offer for myself.

As a result, I'm more than happy to do my best to make a small contribution to the A Million for Maggie's appeal and help to give people with cancer in Yorkshire in years to come the support I wish my mum could have had.

Any donations would be much appreciated.