As we know, 1 in 2 people will get cancer. In 2019, my mum (Ma) was diagnosed with something called "Cancer of Unknown Primary" after discovering multiple secondary tumours.

Ever since, Mamma Warrior (as I now refer to her) has been receiving amazing care, and immunotherapy, via the Alaw Unit, at Ysbyty Gwynedd (Gwynedd hospital).

The Alaw Unit is a combined medical oncology, clinical haematology and palliative care department. It was opened in 2000 and cost £1.3 million, having been built with funds raised by the local people.

The unit supports more than 1,800 cancer patients each year and comprises an 18-bed in-patient unit, a ten-bed day-case treatment unit and out-patient clinics. The unit offers a medical oncology service to the local population including chemotherapy treatment for all common malignancies as well as high-dose chemotherapy and ABMT through the clinical haematology service.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, the unit has continued to do what they do best; always with great care, (welcomed) humour and true professionalism. I wanted to find a challenge that would reflect  mum's true courage and positive determinism throughout her challenge and be sufficiently tough to ask for donations to  another wonderful NHS team.

My mum and step-dad began calling Anglesey home when they retired. When I was scouring for challenges, I came across the Ring O'Fire Challenge - a coastal ultra marathon which takes runners on an extraordinary 135 mile journey around the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales. The epic foot race is staged over three consecutive days (well 36.5 hours to be precise!) and follows the rugged and spectacular Anglesey Coastal Path (4,000m elevation).
    
So, after much thought, I took the plunge and entered this beast of a challenge. In the 2018 race, 68 people started and 37 finished; and 2018 70 started and 45 finished; whilst the odds are tough, I will most certainly be giving it my best shot!

Anyone who knows me knows I take these kind of challenges very seriously. I bought a 24 week training plan and have spent the last few months "pre-training", building my stamina and strength, running between 25-30 miles a week and doing weights three times a week. My training plan averages at 47 miles per week, with the biggest week covering 80 miles over 5 runs. At the moment, I cannot begin to imagine what running 66 miles on day two will feel like!

The last time I fundaised for charity via running was the London Marathon in 2015 (which also happens to be the farthest I've ever ran!). I can honestly say that it was people's generous donations that kept me going through the hardest of training sessions and made sure I completed my first marathon. Six years on, I will be attempting to run five times that distance! Anything you can do to support this cause will be very gratefully received.

I have set up an Instagram site so people can see how my training is going (running_ringofire_4cancer), so please follow my journey!

Thank your for supporting the Alaw Ward through the North Wales NHS Charity, Awyr Las (Blue Sky).Your support helps fund some of the added extras - big and small - that go above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide, making a real difference for local patients and their families when they need it the most.