Somehow, I have managed to convince 10 friends to cycle from Battersea to Brussels this August. We are doing this to raise money for a charity which is quite close to home. In November last year, following multiple trips to the GP about a persistent cough, I was diagnosed with non-small cell adenocarcinoma lung cancer, which was identified to be ALK Positive. This obviously came as a huge shock for myself and those close to me, as I was almost asymptomatic and very active, frequently cycling and playing football. However, this is a rare form of cancer often affecting younger, healthier people who are regularly non-smokers. The charity we will be raising money for is ALKay+ve, the same charity my brother just ran the Brighton Marathon for.

Unfortunately, the diagnosis is not curable, but I am lucky enough that this type of cancer can currently be treated through targeted therapy. This means I avoid the usual horrible cancer treatments we are used to seeing and can continue living relatively normally. The tablets have been incredibly effective, even after only a couple of days of starting them, my 2 year cough had disappeared! From my first set of scans, there has already been a 70-80% reduction in the size of my tumour in under 3 months of treatment and significant improvements to my overall health and fitness.

So far, the research into this type of cancer has allowed advances in treatment to progress with a number of different tablets available. However over time, cancer is clever and will become resistant to the ALK-inhibitor tablets. Therefore, in order to improve life expectancy for me and others with this type of cancer, further research and investment needs to continue. All the money raised by ALKay+ve goes towards clinical trials and research aimed at new drugs being developed globally.

Frustratingly lung cancer is one of the least funded cancers in the UK, predominately due to the stigma attached to its links with smoking. Luckily, I have a group of amazing, supportive (and maybe stupid) friends who want to join me on a 370km cycle from where I live in Battersea, over the very hilly South Downs, across the channel, through France and into Belgium, where we will be greeted by friends and family (hopefully with a beer) in Brussels.

Taking on this challenge with me is a mixed group of girls from different aspects of my life - my partner, Maddy; a close friend, Bella; friends from university football—Hannah C, Batts, Toni, Dani and Emma; and friends from my current London football team, Tribal FC—Lily, Dene, and Hannah W. Plus our support car driven by Corinne and Arron.

I would be very grateful if you can donate what you can to this cause, as it’s only going to keep me around to annoy you all for longer. Please do select Gift Aid, if possible, as charities can claim 25% back on all donations.