I was diagnosed with cancer in the right tonsil back in 2020, caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). After a brutal course in chemo-radiation therapy, I went into remission later that year. Unfortunately, a routine scan late in 2021 showed that the cancer had metastasised and spread to both my lungs, making it incurable. I took ill-health retirement from my work as a geographer at UCL. I completed two years of cutting-edge immunotherapy treatment at the end of 2023, and I'm still being scanned regularly for cancer. But at the moment scans consistenly come back with no evidence of disease, remaining somewhat in "uncharted territory" which is not a bad place to be in at all.

Since recovering from cancer first time round, I discovered my love of running trails at ultra-marathon distances. Since 2021, I have competed in almost 20 ultramarathon races, and have loved them all. In January, I will take on my biggest challenge: running The Spine Race - 268 miles (or c. 430km) along the Pennine Way, from Derbyshire to Scotland. In January 🥶. There is a reason it is called "Britain’s Most Brutal" non-stop endurance race.

I have chosen to raise money for Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK because they fund both research into Head & Neck Cancers, mainly at the very early stages of the disease, and raise awareness into one of the fastest rising cancers in the UK. Our knowledge of HNC is very poor compared to other cancer types, as is public awareness (something which I know about first hand!). Moreover, treatments can be debilitating in themselves. Funds crucially need to be found therefore to help raise awareness and provide better treatment and outcomes for all head and neck cancer patients.

Importantly, all money donated before 31st December 2025 will be matched, so in effect doubling everyone's contributions!

You can do your own head and neck cancer check at home by clicking here.

If you would like to know more about my cancer journey, you can follow my blog: https://ansmackay.wixsite.com/uclgeography/blog