Cancer is a scary prospect regardless of how closely you're affected by it. And in my life, I've been able to research it, work with companies fighting it, as well as had to wait and see whether someone in my immediate family was about to be diagnosed with it.

However, someone very close to us, having fought cancer before, is now fighting it once again. And UCLH's clinical trials are providing hope for a world where he can at least be able to have a better quality of life. Seeing how it has rocked his family's world leaves no words, but the little I can do is try to help those who may have to come across this journey themselves and give them hope, and let UCLH also support them too. I couldn't say more about how the fund is changing everyone's lives right now, including those in our lives. I didn't even hesitate to want to fundraise for the charity, even for my first marathon, it's an opportunity that I simply wouldn't think twice about.

There's so much to be done, from being able to prevent the side effects of treatment through to fighting cancer itself, to just making the end more comfortable and letting people have more autonomy.

Over 14,000 people every year are treated for cancer at University College Hospital, and this number is rising annually. Our patients come from across the UK though mostly from north London, Hertfordshire and Essex.

University College Hospital aims to ensure that all people with cancer, and their families and carers receive a world-class service from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. To achieve this aim and to support our patients, we have created the University College Hospital Cancer Fund which assists with important areas of work above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide. Find out more here: https://www.uclhcancerfund.org.uk/