I'm running the Manchester Marathon in April this year to raise money for Embers, a charity founded by my wonderful cousin Clare.

Clare was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few days after her 25th birthday. She went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy and following all her treatment, she was given the all clear.

After a routine scan in 2023, Clare was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer, which means the cancer is now incurable. This diagnosis has obviously been incredibly hard for Clare, and all of us that love her, but she continues to live an amazingly full life - even recently featuring in an episode of Extraordinary Portraits on the BBC.

After Clare's diagnosis, she experienced the gap in support available to young adults facing incurable or terminal cancer, and because she is like no one else I know, she set up a charity to fill this gap.

While there are lots of cancer charities that do incredible work, few focus exclusively on young adults or address the specific needs of those with terminal diagnoses. Embers works to raise awareness, provide resources, and create networks of support to ensure no young adult has to face an incurable or terminal diagnosis alone.

This will be my first marathon, and fundraising for a cause so close to my heart is getting me through the many hours of training! As a small charity, your donation would make an incredible difference to the work Clare is doing at Embers.

Thank you for reading and for any support you are able to give!