The Royal Cornwall Hospital Charity have kindly given me the opportunity to run the London Marathon in 2026!

I will be raising funds for The Cove, the Cancer Support Centre at Treliske Hospital.

Since my diagnosis in May 2024 and throughout my Breast Cancer treatment, The Cove has been a source of support, information, and comfort to both Mel and me.

Whilst the amazing teams at the Headland Unit, Sunrise Centre, and Mermaid Centre have provided medical care through my surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the incredible people who work at The Cove have helped me to hold on to who I am as a person, and to make life bearable around being a cancer patient.

I have personally benefitted from:

* Counselling from an amazing therapist, who is helping me with my treatment-induced PTSD, as my veins have given up (not unreasonably, given what's been pumped through them) so cannulation and blood tests are traumatic and painful, yet remain frequent. Without her, I don't know how I'd still be able to turn up and consent to treatments.

* Physiotherapy from someone who has consistently supported me to pace myself, accept my situation, build up my strength again, rein it in when I'm expecting too much of my body, and remember that it will be possible to be fit and active again.

* Cold water immersion therapy, which involved weekly sea swimming with other cancer patients, supported by The Cove and Chill CIC, which has led me to maintain resilience, make new friends, and reconnect with the water. I wept with joy on that first session, having had a year of central lines in my body, which meant I had had to keep out the sea.

* A spa treatment and afternoon tea at Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa, where therapists are specially trained to provide treatments to cancer patients. This was a much needed escape the weekend before my surgery, as Mel and I haven't been able to have a holiday, let alone a honeymoon, due to my health. It was a chance to really relax and catch our breath before my surgery.

* Somewhere to go and seek support and comfort during my in-patient stays on Lowen Ward, whilst being treated for sepsis. The atmosphere at The Cove is as home-from-home as you could hope for in a hospital environment, and we are always met with warmth and smiles.

* Support with financal advice as I was diagnosed whilst working my notice at my job, and was too unwell to start my new job. The Citizen's Advice Bureau support I've been offered has been so much more than about money and benefits; the care has been incredible, and has relieved so much stress.

* Advice from a Dietician about nutrition and food choices, to ensure my body is as well-fuelled as possible to deal with treatment and beyond, including for my marathon training.

* A Look Good, Feel Better course, which enabled me to meet other cancer patients, and learn how to use make up to draw on eyebrows in readiness for mine falling out. I never did bother to draw them on, but it was a confidence boost to meet others, and talk about how the little things can be as difficult to live with as the big treatments.

* A safe space to cry in private with Mel when I found out my fertility would be affected by treatment. The empathy and compassion we have received has kept us bouyed up and sane throughout everything cancer has thrown at us.

* A dog-friendly space where Mia and Indy have been able to meet me for much needed cuddles when I've been too poorly to come home.

I consider the team at The Cove to be integral to my wellbeing and would love to raise funds to support their ongoing work, so that other cancer patients can continue to receive the same level of care and support that I have. Their services extend far beyond what I have accessed, to include support with wigs, groups for carers, wellness groups such as Tai Chi, and so much more. They think of everything with a holistic benefit, and make it easily accessible and welcoming.

I had planned to complete a marathon before turning 40 and had been training for York Marathon when I got my diagnosis, but had to cancel it due to treatment. Training to run London 2026 feels like reclaiming my old self, has given me a brilliant goal to work towards, and there are no excuses - running a marathon could never be as hard as going through cancer treatment has been!

If you can spare a few pennies for this brilliant cause, please do donate, and if not, please do share and spread the word.

Royal Cornwall Hospital Charitiy:

Our Vision- We are passionate about supporting the creation of a

brilliant patient experience for everyone across the Trust at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, St Michaels Hospital in Hayle and West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance.

Thanks to kind and generous supporters like you, we are able to fund equipment, facilities or additional training with our patients at the heart of everything that we do