I'll never forget the moment my fantastic friend, Mags, told me she had an aggressive and incurable form of lung cancer... the nasty bastard of cancers - Mesothelioma. She was sat in my kitchen, in the same spot she'd sat so many times before, usually drinking tea or wine; always laughing, always planning. But this? This was so bleak, that no amount of wine or tea could make things better. The prognosis was shit. I didn't know much about Mesothelioma, I could barely pronounce it, but what I did know was that it's almost always down to breathing in asbestos - which was widely used in the construction of buildings because of its resistance to fire. 

The cruel irony is Mags may well have been exposed to asbestos at one of the hospitals where she trained to be a doctor. You know, at a hospital, where people go to get better. But it's not just lurking on the wards. Asbestos was banned years ago, yet it's still in thousands of schools, hidden inches away from our children; it's in our offices; our homes. Everywhere. One tiny microscopic fibre of the stuff can lie dormant on the lining of a person's lungs for 20 or 30 years before it rears its head in the worst way possible, as Mesothelioma.

Research into Mesothelioma is MASSIVELY underfunded. Each year it kills as many people as skin cancer, yet it receives a tiny fraction of the funding skin cancer does. Per death, £3,700 is invested in skin cancer, for Mesothelioma it's only £480.

As so many of you know, Mags is passionate about equality; she works tirelessly for better understanding and treatment of HIV (look up 'PrEP'). But, above all else, she's a wife and soulmate to Martin, and an adored mum to two little boys, Edward and Freddie. She's a real life superwoman and in true Mags style, she's defying all the odds. She's completed her first course of chemo and the tumour has shrunk massively. And today we went running in the rain. It's a long road ahead, but so far: Mags 1 - Mesothelioma 0. 

So, to all the rainbow ravers; the Prepsters; the dancers; the underdogs; the Speed Queen frequenters; the school gate smilers; the friends from far and wide... to all you humans, who Mags loves so much, please consider giving a few quid to Mesothelioma UK, via the link thingy bob. It will go towards much needed support and treatment for people suffering from Mesothelioma. Every single pound will spur me and the rest of Team Rainbow - Shaz, Ann and Shani - on, as we drag ourselves up and over those bloody big hills. 

Anna xxx  

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.