I'm running the Brighton Marathon in April this year, and whilst this was originally just for 'fun', in the last couple of months my sister Ruth has been diagnosed with Stage 3 Lung Cancer. The diagnosis has subsequently identified her to be ALK Positive, which is a rare form of cancer often affecting younger, healthy people who are non-smokers. Therefore, a big run seems a good reason to raise some money for a related cause.

Currently, the diagnosis is not curable. The existing treatment aims to stop and reverse the growth of the tumours, which also reduces many of the associated symptoms, but this will only work for a certain amount of time before the body becomes resistant to the ALK Inhibitor.

However, research development over recent years has significantly improved the treatment with new generations of drugs extending life expectancy well beyond typical prognosis that would be offered only 5 years ago. The hope is that this progresses, continuously extending life expectancy until it becomes a chronic illness that you can live with well into old age.

To achieve this, funding is needed to constantly enhance and improve the treatment and there are many clinical trials and new drugs being developed globally. Sadly, Lung Cancers in the UK are one of the least funded of all cancers, often because of the stigma attached to its link with smoking. Yet lung cancer has a greater mortality rate than breast, prostate and bowl cancer combined and receives comparatively little from both Government and charities.

Even more so, rare types such as ALK+, which are generally not caused by external factors such as smoking, rely heavily on public fundraising to generate breakthroughs being seen in other cancer treatments, given lack of awareness and existing funding opportunities available.

I'm therefore raising money for a UK charity 'ALKay +ve'. They're a charity who donate all money raised towards particular research projects aiming to improve and enhance ALK+ treatment. A link to their website is below which contains further information, including details of research projects and wider aims and objectives of the charity.

Receiving this kind of news at the age of 28 is devastating. Yet I couldn't be more proud of Ruth in the way she has faced it head on and refuses to alter her own life plans - booking holidays, progressing her career as a detective in the MET, and living life to the full as she always has. She is inspirational - I certainly doubt I could handle it the way she has!

I'm very grateful for anything you can donate, all of which will go towards improving treatment and extending life as far as possible. For her and many others with similar diagnosis. As ever, if you're a UK tax payer, do select gift aid if possible, as charities can claim 25% back on all donations made which makes a huge difference.

Thanks in advance!

https://www.alkpositiveresearch.co.uk/index.html