The first time I truly understood what bone cancer was, it came with heartbreaking news. My best friend Meg told me that her little sister, Eve, had been diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. Eve was bright, funny, full of life, the kind of child who lit up every room she entered. It was impossible to understand how something so cruel could happen to someone so young and special.

Through it all, Meg and her family were nothing short of extraordinary. They faced the unimaginable with strength, grace, and unwavering hope. They didn’t just endure it, they became advocates, raising awareness and doing everything they could to make a difference, even while navigating their own pain.

I'll also be running for Liberty. Liberty was a fun-loving, sporty child with a huge zest for life when she was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma on her 13th birthday. It is a rare, aggressive form of primary bone cancer, predominantly affecting children, especially teens. Liberty sadly passed away a year later, her greatest wish that her family continue her brave fight and fundraise for research into this brutal disease.

Treatment protocols for Ewing’s have barely changed in 40 years. 5 year survival rates have remained static at around 50% and for those with metastatic disease, only 20-30%. Yet primary bone cancer as a whole received just 0.027% of funding from the major UK cancer charities in 2020/21. The strength, courage and determination Liberty showed to change these dismal stats despite her age and own adversity are inspiring. Please help continue her Legacy, so that newly diagnosed patients can be given hope and the future every child deserves. For more info: www.bcrt.org.uk/LibertysLegacy.

Running this marathon is my way of honoring Eve, supporting Meg and her family and for Liberty and her family, contributing to the fight against bone cancer. Every step I take is for the families who are living through this battle and for the researchers working toward better treatments and one day, a cure.