Last summer, perhaps over a little too much rose, I agreed with my crazy friend Sally Turnage, that we’d run the Isle of Wight Challenge together on 3rd May this year. I’ve never run more than a ½ marathon before and always avoided entering a full marathon a) because I couldn’t be bothered with all that running training and b) because I wouldn’t live it down amongst my “friends” if I didn’t achieve sub 3 hours! I don’t know why I thought a distance of 106km in one day (equivalent to 2.5 marathons) would get me out of training! Now I’m slightly regretting signing up and telling my pals I was entering, there’s no way of turning back. GULP. So if you see a 40 year old small blonde girl looking miserable running around various parks of London, wave and cheer me on please!

However, I have the most enormous incentive to complete the challenge and raise money for Brain Tumour Research. The only national charity dedicated to funding long-term, sustainable research in the UK.

In December 2023, we lost my mum to the most hideous form of brain tumour – the Glioblastoma. It’s a horribly aggressive tumour and forms like moss on cells all over the brain, the prognosis isn’t great to those who are unfortunate enough to be diagnosed. My mum outlived the 6 month expectancy to 18 months, she was so stoic in her illness, still working the dogs, riding horses, chopping down trees and gardening like a force of nature. Mum was a very fit 73 year old who had tonnes of life to live and grandchildren to spoil. 2 months before mum died, my Godmother’s husband, Reverend Martin Beaumont, was diagnosed with the same tumour. Martin, a former rugby player, theology teacher, chaplain and parish vicar was one of life’s best. A very talented cook, wine drinker and so very funny. He was one of the most generous men in terms of his faith and his friendship. Again, 73 years old and taken way too early when he died in August 2024.

So there it is, two very significant people in my life, taken within 12 months of each other by this shitty disease. My mum won’t get to see my two girls grow up or see my career evolve as she was desperate to. Martin won’t be with sharing his retirement with his wife, my Godmother, Ruth. So, when I’m hurting like hell, climbing another hill on the Isle of Wight, probably with a headwind to match, I will simply have to dig deep and remember those two people who I loved dearly. Any and every pound generously donated will be going towards the desperate research into fighting Brain cancer

If you can spare anything to donate to Brain Tumour Research in memory of my brilliant, mad, mum – Carolyn Bourne and a wonderful man – Martin Beaumont, please donate below and think of me on 3rd May!!