On Sunday 26th April 2026 I’m going to run the London Marathon a year after my diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. I can’t begin to explain how excited I am to be part of this renowned event and how lucky I am to have been given this opportunity by Cardiff & Vale Health Charity.

My inspiration to run the London marathon was to try and repay some of the kindness I received whilst a patient of Mr Sumit Goyal OBE, consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at Llandough Hospital. One of the 300 funds that Cardiff & Vale Health Charity supports is the Breast Centre at Llandough, a purpose built centre that makes a huge difference to the treatment and care that breast cancer patients receive. This centre of excellence opened in October 2010 and provides essential diagnostic services and outpatient appointments for almost 4,000 people a year.

For the past few years I have been a member of Women Running Penarth, a local women’s running club. Running with WRP has been central to my recovery both physically and mentally, providing a wonderfully supportive community of amazing women. Sadly, I am not the only woman in WRP to have been diagnosed with breast cancer over the past few years, and so it is an honour for me to be able to support our local unit at the Breast Centre by running the London Marathon. I have been so lucky to have the love and support of my husband, children, family and friends and I hope I can show that despite its impact, cancer does have positive outcomes.

In supporting me, you will be helping to support The Breast Centre Appeal to provide state -of-the-art equipment, a specialist physiotherapist and an exercise prescription service (the first of its kind in Wales) fitness and swimming sessions, complementary therapies and ongoing staff training to enhance the service that can be provided through the NHS.

It is an absolute privilege to be able to run the 2026 London Marathon on behalf of Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and every single donation will make a difference to every one of the patients supported by its many appeals.