In January 2024 my mother was diagnosed with bowel cancer and facing probable major surgery. Much changed for our family as we were forced to face the all too common challenges of this horrible disease.

Mum had some tough times but with the exceptional care and treatment of The Royal Marsden both in London and Sutton she is now in remission … not cured, but in a very different place from a year ago.

I took her to some of her radiotherapy sessions during her first cycle of treatment and saw first hand what an amazing facility we have in this world renowned hospital.

Every person who walks through the doors of the Marsden is treated with the same professional excellence and emotional support as my mum was and we need to continue to support them.

For that reason I am running my first half marathon in 15 years and I ask you to donate whatever you can to help this extraordinary place continue its amazing work.

Mum's relationship with the Marsden began just over a year ago and we thank them for everything they have done for her and us as a family.

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money solely to support The Royal Marsden, a world-leading cancer centre. We ensure our nurses, doctors and research teams can provide the very best care and develop life-saving treatments, which are used across the UK and around the world.

From funding state-of-the-art equipment and groundbreaking research, to creating the very best patient environments, we will never stop looking for ways to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.