As the great-great nephew of Suffragette icon Emily Wilding Davison, I am planning to embark on my own five-day sponsored fast to mirror Emily’s first hunger strike, but this time it’s for charity!

My great-great Aunt was famous for going on multiple hunger strikes to force the Government of the day to give women the vote. Sadly she died aged 40 after running out in front of the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby in 1913, in a bid to pin the Suffragette colours on the animal and was trampled. But her efforts and those of fellow Suffragettes eventually led to women being given the vote in 1928.

On 31st July 2023 I will go without food for 124 hours, to pay tribute to Emily but also to raise funds for an appeal which directly benefits women in South and Mid Essex.

Southend Hospital’s Charitable Foundation Spotlight radiotherapy appeal is raising £600,000 to buy state-of-art Surface Guided Radiation devices which help pinpoint a range of cancers, a large proportion of which are gynaecological.

The new technology will revolutionise the way patients receive radiotherapy, bringing a host of benefits to patients in terms of comfort, speed and accuracy.

I sought the backing of my GP before making this commitment and I will be tracking my progress via this page, as well as through the charity's social media @SouthendHospCF.

Thank you for you support, it really does make a difference.