I am taking part in The 2026 Robin Hood Half Marathon on behalf of The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre.

Cancer has had a huge impact on my family, and I lost both of my grandparents to the disease. They meant so much to me, and their loss is something I still carry. One of the hardest parts was seeing how cancer changed their lives and the effect it had on everyone around them. Taking part in this half marathon is my way of honouring their memory while supporting research that could help improve outcomes for other families in the future.

Sadly, my experience is far from unique. Nearly 1 in 2 people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime, meaning almost every family will be affected in some way. More than 400,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, and behind every diagnosis are loved ones, changed futures, and families learning to live with uncertainty. Research is one of the most important ways we can improve early diagnosis, develop better treatments, and give more people the chance of longer, healthier lives.

Based at Nottingham Trent University, JvGCRC specialise in research into blood cancers as well as colorectal, pancreatic and brain tumours.

Your kind donations help to find ways to:

- Diagnose cancer better

- Predict how it will respond to treatment

- Develop ways of boosting the immune system to fight it

The presence of cancer in our lives might remain inevitable, but the scale and devastation of its impact need not be. Your donations help to continue this life-changing work.

Thank you for your support!

Chlo xx