I will be running my tenth marathon for a local medical charity Cobalt on Sunday 3 October, in the Virgin London Marathon.  (The actual marathon!!)

I will be raising money to help fund a specialist nurse to support teenagers and young adults with cancer in the South West. 

Many of my friends and close family have been helped by the great work that Cobalt does. Currently a family member regularly visits for brain scans to check up on the growth of his tumour and has done since 2010. I’ve had a family member whose breast cancer was identified by Cobalt 18 years ago and has since fully recovered. 

My beloved Nan who has now fully recovered from grade 4 cancer of the uterus has said ‘the dedicated thoughtful and compassionate treatment I received from the Cobalt Unit made my fight against cancer less stressful. I am truly grateful to everyone involved.’

Without this incredible medical charity pioneering medical imaging diagnosis, who knows where all these cherished people in my life would be today.

I am being supported by local personal trainer, Deborah Wall of Fearne Fitness, who has put together a gruelling personalised training plan to ensure I am race ready come October.

Kirsty Bradbury, Fundraising Engagement Officer, Cobalt said “We are delighted that Layla has chosen to support us.  The role of the Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer Specialist Nurse is incredibly important.  Young people between 16 and 25 with cancer are a unique group and have very different needs to adults and children. They may be starting out in a new job or further education, as well as becoming more body conscious. The nurse offers an outlet for them to confide in and get the answers to any questions they might have”.

Megan Willsher has been appointed as the Cobalt Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA) with Cancer Specialist Nurse since June 2011 and is based at Cheltenham General Hospital, linking with colleagues in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Bristol and Birmingham; she is one of only five TYA Cancer Specialist Nurses in the South West.

So please dig deep and support this amazing charity and help share the awareness of what they have achieved over the years.