Cancer has recently touched my family, and I now understand the feeling of true helplessness. Watching someone you love go through something so physically and mentally demanding is incredibly difficult, especially when it feels like there’s nothing you can do to ease the pain or make things better.

The ripple effect of cancer is far reaching. The strain, the fear, and the emotional toll spread outward. It changes how people think, feel and support one another. It becomes something we all carry together.

So, in looking for another way to show up, I’ve decided to run a half marathon to raise money for a charity that supports people and families affected by cancer through their toughest moments.

This run is for strength, for hope, and for every person who has had to fight harder than they ever should have. It’s for the quiet bravery, the long days, and the love that carries people through their darkest times. Above everything else, this run is for my uncle.

If you’re able to support or even share, it would mean so much.

FORCE is a Devon charity giving care and support for local people affected by cancer to improve their wellbeing and quality of life by providing a wide range of free services including specialist information and advice, counselling, complementary therapies, advice on keeping active, support with hair loss, benefits advice, relaxation and mindfulness courses, art groups and programmes to help people move on after treatment or cope with cancers that can’t be cured.

The need for FORCE has never been greater. Cancer touches every corner of our community with more and more people diagnosed every year. That means a growing demand for the support only FORCE can offer locally.

FORCE is the main charity partner for the Great West Run again for 2026. In the last two years we have had the biggest team on race day, raising the most money and making the greatest impact on people in our community dealing with a cancer diagnosis. GO TEAM FORCE!