Anybody who knows me well knows that I am not a runner!

From an early age, my only sporting successes were the wheelbarrow race or the egg-and-spoon. I usually came last in any running event and was very often the child chosen last for any team sports.

So deciding to run a marathon has surprised pretty much everyone — including me.

Last year, I lost my mum. Completely out of the blue, she was admitted to hospital with stomach pain. Five weeks later, she died from pancreatic cancer. She never made it back home.

It’s hard to put into words how that felt. I felt lost, shocked, and incredibly lonely — the one person who truly knew me, was suddenly gone.

Those weeks in hospital were especially hard because we didn’t know what we were facing. We were unprepared for the final outcome. Watching someone you love become so unwell, so quickly, and knowing there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it, is devastating.

Sadly I can’t change what happened to my mum, but if running this marathon helps raise awareness or funds that prevent even one person — or one family — from going through something similar, then every painful mile will be worth it.

I am lucky enough to be running with my 2 sons and future daughter-in-law, although they're likely to finish several hours ahead of me!

This will be tough, but I am training hard and determined to finish - however it will be nothing compared to the fight that people with cancer face every day.

Thank you so much for supporting me