May is usually a month that I associate with the arrival of the Summer weather (sort of!) and birthday celebrations but in 2017, our world changed with the diagnosis of a rare form of kidney cancer for my 17 year old brother, Joshua.

Josh already suffers with a mild form of autism and has learning difficulties so to go through something like this in his life left questions in our minds about how he would cope with the treatment, chemotherapy and a serious operation for the removal of his kidney. He may have had his moments but we really needn't have worried. Josh has been absolutely amazing and has left us all simply astounded in coping with it all.

Nearly one year on from his initial diagnosis during which he also celebrated his 18th birthday, we couldn't be any prouder of Josh as he continues to go through treatment and carries on fighting!

Due to the rare form of cancer, Josh was admitted as a patient at The Christie in Manchester. The weekly journeys from our home in Newcastle-under-Lyme may be a pain at times but it's certainly been worth it because the support that The Christie have provided not just to my brother but to my mother too in terms of the situation that we have found ourselves in has been simply fantastic. Josh could not be in a better place to be looked after.

With that in mind, I have decided to take part in the Potters 'Arf Marathon once again this year, raising money for The Christie in return for the amazing support that they have given to my family.

Please share our story and help us to raise as much as we possibly can for The Christie. On a personal note, this will be the third time I'll be taking part in the Potters 'Arf but only the second time that I hope to raise money for charity, given that we managed to raise £895.00 for the National Deaf Children's Society last year. I would absolutely love to raise that amount again!!

Thank you for your time!