I know fundraisers make everyone feel uncomfortable; most people have their own favourite charities that they support and to donate to a different charity usually means that the person fundraising is doing something pretty incredible!

Spoiler alert. It’s not me that is doing anything incredible. I was lucky enough to get a ballot place to run the London Marathon this year. The stars were aligned when I got that place; Huw also has a place and as this year is my 50th year, what better way to celebrate being 50 than to run the London Marathon with my husband! The thing is, it’s not even the first time I have run London and it’s not my first marathon but my 5th; everyone knows I love a 26.2 mile run. It is 10 years since I lost my amazing dad to cancer but so many of us have been affected by cancer that my story; as painful and as awful as it was for my family and I, is sadly not that unusual. I can add a bit of drama and tell you I have been struggling a little bit with some niggles so I won’t be running for a time but I’m fairly certain, nothing I have said so far will encourage you to part with your money.

What is incredible is the charity I would like to support. Move Against Cancer Charity is a small charity that promotes the benefits of movement and exercise during and after a cancer diagnosis. The charity works tirelessly to deliver a free 1-1 eight week online programme for young people with cancer. The courses are led by Cancer Rehab Exercise Instructors and help the young people live a happier and healthier life.

It doesn’t stop there. Move Against Cancer Charity also founded and now support 5k Your Way; a community based initiative that encourages those living with or beyond cancer to come and join groups on the last Saturday of each month at their local parkrun. I am an Ambassador for the Shrewsbury group and I can see first hand the difference the groups make. Real friendships have developed and our members feel supported, inspired, heard and less isolated. And that doesn’t even touch on the enormous benefits exercise can have on a cancer diagnosis; a reduction in cancer related fatigued and treatment related side effects and emerging evidence that exercise may reduce the risk of reoccurrence. There are many more benefits but the point is all of this is happening up and down the country on the last Saturday of every month! It is a tremendous force for good that needs to be shouted about more!

Finally, I can’t not mention the amazing resources for everyone facing cancer that is available on the Move Against Cancer Charity website. There is everything from Workshops to Q&As to exercise sessions; all free!

So with zero expectations on how much I could raise or how fast (or slow!) we can get this marathon done, here’s the deal. I will get to the start line of the London Marathon along with my husband and we will run it with a smile and whilst I’m sure that alone is not enough for you to donate, I am hoping that this charity and all it does for those will convince you to part with a small donation. Please help Move Against Cancer Charity continue to run the 8 week programme, support 5k Your Way and keep producing all the resources free of charge; help them keep moving against cancer. Thank you.