Inspired by a friend who earlier this year ran her first marathon, I decided to start running again with an aim of completing a 10k. Now that I’m nearing the end of my Couch-to-10k app, I figured I may as well sign up for a legit 10k, and of course it had to be the Terry Fox Run.

The last time I ran 10k was in 2009 (though it was actually a half marathon, which I will NEVER stop mentioning any chance I get) I had already lost my Dad to cancer and my Mom had thankfully survived her first encounter with it. Sadly we’ll all be touched by cancer in one form or another so I’m asking, if you can, to please support me in my 10k by donating to the Institute of Cancer Research, London. If you’re in Canada and want to donate, please donate to the Terry Fox Foundation instead of supporting me directly. If you’re in Ireland, please donate to the Irish Cancer Society. If you’re elsewhere in the world, you can find out what charity benefits from your local Terry Fox Run here: https://terryfox.org/international-runs/

If you’re not Canadian and haven’t heard me go on about how Terry Fox is one of the greatest Canadians ever (technically the second greatest, as voted by the country in 2004), here’s a little blurb about Terry and his legacy as written by the Terry Fox Foundation. There’s also an episode of the podcast History’s Youngest Heroes on the BBC hosted by Nicola Coughlan if you’d like to hear a narrated version of his incredible legacy. Thanks for taking the time to donate.

In 1980, Terry Fox started a marathon against cancer. Together, we can end it.

Terry Fox, a 22-year-old Canadian athlete who lost his leg to osteogenic sarcoma, made headlines in 1980 when he ran 3,339 miles over 143 days across Canada to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Since his death, thousands of Terry Fox runs have been held each September in Canada and throughout the world in his name which have raised more than £500 million for cancer research.

The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR), is one of the world's most influential cancer research institutes. They lead the world in revealing the genetic diversity and complexity of cancer, and exploiting these findings to develop new and better treatments. Their research, is making a real impact on cancer patients’ lives.

Help them reach the finishing line. Together, we can finish cancer.