After doing my first marathon last year (which was by far the most gruelling physical experience of my life, and swearing the whole way I would never do it again!) here I am. But this time, knowing I can make it round despite the agony, I’m raising money for an incredibly special charity - Sarcoma UK.

At the age of just 27, as a single mum to 3 year old me, my mum was diagnosed with cancer - dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) - in the middle of her forehead. That began a 22 year journey of numerous cancer recurrences and surgeries, resulting in her entire forehead from above her eyebrows, temple to temple and 2 inches into her hairline being removed, with 85% thickness of her skull bone also removed, before finally being cleared.

- Sarcomas account for 1% of all diagnosed cancers.

- DFSP makes up only 3.73% of all soft tissue sarcomas and just 0.05% of all cancers.

- Only 147 cases of DFSP are diagnosed every year in England.

Sarcomas can invade soft tissue, muscle and bone and be very invasive. More research and awareness is key. Having lived through my Mum’s story and that of so many in her DFSP community that she founded on Facebook in 2008, it’s clear that much more research needs to be done into these rarer cancers.

£1 Could cover the cost of 10 texts to the support line.

£10 Could be used to buy microscope slides to look at cells in minute detail.

£30 Could fund one hour of use of a high-powered laboratory microscope.

£150 Could fund the support line for a week.

Thank you so much for any support you can give, it means the world to me and all those who Sarcoma UK are fighting for every day ❤️