On Sunday 5th May I will be running the Copenhagen Marathon in support of 40tude. I have never run a marathon before and this will be a huge challenge for me, but I am doing it for a very special cause and any donations at all would be really appreciated.

In November 2022, Saul Neale passed away from bowel cancer. Saul lived life to the fullest, and running was something he did regularly. I will be thinking of him all the way and the courage that he showed in his fight against cancer.

Colon (bowel) cancer is the biggest killer of non-smokers in the UK, for men and women alike, and the number of families being touched by this type of cancer continues to rise. However, the chances of survival are much higher if detected early. The good news is that it can also be preventable, through regular screening.

40tude is an innovative and successful charity, already helping to transform the early detection and treatment of colon cancer. It aims to raise awareness and encourage many more people to get screened for this disease, as screening can - and does - save lives.

The funds raised by 40tude are directed very carefully to early phases of ground-breaking research projects being led by the pioneering medics at St. Mark’s, the National Bowel Hospital, which are already making a difference in assessing risk and increasing the availability of high-quality bowel cancer screening, so that limited NHS resources can be directed to those who need it most.

Thank you for reading this passage, and if you do choose to donate, I would be incredibly grateful.

Freya xx

To find out more, please go to www.40tude.org.uk.