I am running the Brighton Marathon on 6th April in memory of my brother-in-law, Mark Rowland. Early last year Mark was running steep hills at 8 minute miles and skiing with his family, before everything changed forever on 4th April 2024 and he was diagnosed with late stage bowel cancer. He died peacefully on 14th January 2025.

If you met Mark, you will know what a fun-loving, kind and generous person he was. He was a brilliant dad to three children, a soul partner to my sister, Rachel, and so very loved by everyone. Mark and Rachel always lived bravely and beautifully, and they embodied this approach through his treatment too. It is beyond remarkable to me, but Mark did not carry bitterness or blame after his diagnosis. Cancer took him too soon, and he is missed more than words.

Mark, Duncan and I always enjoyed lots of runs together at home or on holiday. When Mark knew he wouldn't be running again, he gave Duncan his best trainers. Mark has big shoes to fill, and since they didn't fit Duncan I swapped out the laces and threaded them into my own running shoes. Mark's laces have taken me through the relentless training, sideways rain, and early mornings, and his positivity and courage have been a steadfast inspiration to me. Whilst I won't be running his 8 minute miles, I'll give it my best shot and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

In her memorial speech, Rachel shared some of Mark's reflections as he came to the end of his life: "If Mark was giving you the product brief for living well, it would be simple: optimise quality before dying. Since we're all dying anyway, he urges you to start now. Use your time to live well. Whatever that means to you. To do this, it's imperative that you know why you do anything. Your time is precious. He requests that you please not waste it."

Knowing why I'm running this distance has been a huge motivator: I am raising money for Bowel Cancer UK, as this disease has now impacted the lives of two very dear people in my life - and I'm sure it won't be the last.

I would like to help fund earlier diagnosis and stop people dying of bowel cancer. This charity funds targeted research and support patients and their families. They educate the public and professionals about the disease, campaign for early diagnosis, and increase access to the best treatment and care.

Thank you for reading, and I am truly grateful for your donations to this important cause, which is so close to my heart.