If you’re here, whether you bought a sweet treat, came to my iftar event, shared a post, or simply paused to read, thank you.

This Ramadan, alongside waking up at the crack of dawn and refraining from food and water during daylight hours, I’ve also been running. Long runs. Tired runs. Some “why did I sign up for this?” runs.

I’m training for the London Marathon for Breast Cancer Now, averaging nearly 50km a week.

It sounds slightly unhinged. And maybe it is.

But this is so much bigger than sore legs and early mornings.

As a breast cancer specialist pharmacist, I don’t just see a diagnosis on a screen. My role goes far beyond checking doses or explaining side effects. My days are filled with treatment charts, blood results, dose calculations, and medication reviews. But behind every prescription is a person trying to process a life-changing reality.

I see the weight that cancer carries.

And then there are the numbers.

1 in 7 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Over 55,000 women and around 400 men are diagnosed every year in the UK. That’s one woman every 9 minutes. By the time you finish reading this, someone else will have heard the words: “It’s breast cancer.”

But this isn’t about statistics.

It’s about the woman who was planning her daughter’s wedding.

The man who never thought it could happen to him.

The young mother trying to decide how to explain hair loss to her children.

It’s about real people. Real families. Real lives paused in an instant.

That’s why I’m running.

Breast Cancer Now isn’t just funding research, they’re fighting for a future where no one fears those words the way they do today. Their vision is powerful: by 2050, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will live and be supported to live well.

I’ve visited their labs. I’ve seen the research being done. I’ve watched the dedication of scientists working to change survival rates and improve treatments. This isn’t abstract, it’s urgent. It’s happening now.

Beyond the marathon, I’ve tried to turn this journey into something that brings people together:

Sharing sweet treats during Ramadan as acts solidarity

Hosting an iftar where loved ones fasted alongside me

Planning an Indian tea party to celebrate Eid and community

And through my work, I’ve been raising awareness about something that deeply concerns me, the significantly lower screening attendance among women from ethnic minority backgrounds. Early detection saves lives. Awareness saves lives. Conversations save lives.

Every donation, every share, every message of encouragement pushes this mission forward.

When my legs feel heavy at kilometer 35, I won’t be thinking about the finish line.

I’ll be thinking about the patients I’ve met.

The families sitting in clinic rooms.

The courage I witness every single day.

That’s what will carry me.

Thank you for standing with me. Thank you for believing in this cause. And thank you for helping turn exhaustion into impact.

With all my love,

Ammarrah x