As many of you know, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer in August 2025 with a 20cm tumor in my right kidney. This came as a huge shock to me, my family and friends.

At the time, I knew very little about cancer of the kidney and it even took me a moment to remember that we have 2.

Nevertheless, I received more scans and appointments with consultants and I was given my own specialist kidney cancer nurse who was amazing. She pointed me in the direction of Kidney Cancer UK, and their website. I found this very informative, was able to read a bit more about my condition, treatment plans and also could read and start to relate to some of the personal stories that were available.

I was very fortunate that my cancer had not spread and was successfully removed with a full open nephrectomy on the 8th of January in the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.

I was advised by my fantastic medical team to walk to aid my recovery. I did this steadfast and one day began jogging. This led to me starting the Couch to 5K and thinking about how my experience could help others.

I have never been a runner, again you will most likely know that I was born with hip dysplasia and have 2 artificial hips. Despite this, I have enjoyed getting fitter and improving my health.

So, I have got carried away and signed up for my first 5K race on the 7th November across the Forth Road Bridge. This is a challenge for me as not having being a 'runner' for long I have still not run this distance without walking sections.

It was a no brainer for me to try to raise some funds for Kidney Cancer UK, I would really appreciate your support with this.

Cheers, Heather

Kidney Cancer UK is the UK's leading kidney cancer charity.

Kidney cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the UK, with approximately 13,300 new cases diagnosed annually. Alarmingly, over half of these cases are diagnosed incidentally, often during tests for unrelated conditions, leading to delays in treatment. Each year, around 4,700 people in the UK lose their lives to this disease. ​

By supporting Kidney Cancer UK, you're helping to fund vital work and provide support to those affected.

Thank you 💚