I never would’ve imagined running a half marathon, but I decided it would be a good idea to sign up for one before having ever run in my life. I'm taking part in the Royal Parks Half on Sunday 11 October 2026, running 13.1 miles for Prostate Cancer UK.

My dad was unfortunately diagnosed with an aggressive and incurable Stage 4B prostate cancer, with high-volume spread to bones. He has recently finished chemotherapy to give us more time, and constantly amazes me with how strong he is. If my dad can navigate this with so much grace, then I know I’m strong enough to run a half-marathon, which he hopes to watch.

Prostate Cancer UK funds lots of incredible research which has been leading to better, kinder treatment options to extend or improve men’s lives with advanced (Stage 4) prostate cancer.

They have just started the world’s largest ever prostate cancer screening trial, to find the best way to screen men - so that one day men are invited for regular tests to catch aggressive cancers in time for a cure.

They also provide remarkable support to both men and their families as they navigate this disease, at all its stages. I found out far from home. Their website had resources about everything I needed and made overwhelming information simple and easy to understand.

Losing a parent is something I never expected to go through now, and I can’t imagine my life without my dad. It has been really difficult to process this news and fear of the future while staying on top of daily life, staying strong for both my parents, all the while being so far from home.

When I learned about the cancer, I was at my last NHS job in mental health in-patient crisis care. I used to cycle at the gym on my days off after 13-hour shifts, and decided I was up for the challenge! I also knew I had a lot of work to do on previous injuries but I’ve been enjoying the process. I do both strength training and running or cycling a few times a week. When I go home, I join my dad every day for his afternoon run or swim.

If you’d like to support Prostate Cancer UK, any donation is valuable. For example, £8 pays to collect a blood sample which could be used to find new markers of aggressive prostate cancer to help doctors diagnose men earlier.

Thank you so much for reading and for your support :)