It's been over a year now since I jumped out of a plane and time for my next challenge!

This year I am running the London Marathon and, having been truly overwhelmed by everyone's generosity before, am trying to raise even more money for Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group and also The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

CCLG is a leading children's cancer charity and the UK and Ireland's professional association for those involved in the treatment and care of children with cancer. It would be wonderful for me to be able to continue to contribute to this charity as I have been personally touched by seeing my very dear cousin Olivia live through the tragedy of losing a child to cancer. She, and her husband Derek, lost their beautiful daughter Ella to cancer in October 2013 at the age of 2 and the devastating impact this cruel disease has on families is beyond comprehension. Also, my high school friend Louise Bennett (and her husband Jon and son Arthur) lost their amazing son and brother, Fred, to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2020, at the age of 14. We currently have a child in school undergoing treatment for leukaemia and he is at the forefront of my mind as I train for this marathon and try to raise as much money as possible.

Each week in the UK and Ireland, more than 30 children are diagnosed with cancer. This charity is trying to raise much needed funds for vital research into kinder and more effective treatments for childhood cancers. It is a little known fact that only 2% of cancer research funding in the UK is spent on research that is fully dedicated to childhood and young adult cancer and this is an area which desperately needs more funding.

This year, I have also decided to support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. My very lovely headteacher, Kate Marchesi, is currently undergoing treatment for leukaemia at the Royal Marsden so it is a charity very dear to our hearts at school. This charity raises money solely to support The Royal Marsden, a world-leading cancer centre. They ensure that nurses, doctors and research teams can provide the very best care and develop life-saving treatments, which are used across the UK and around the world. From funding state-of-the-art equipment and ground breaking research, to creating the very best patient environments, they are always looking for ways to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

In conclusion, I am doing this marathon in memory of Ella and Fred and in support of all children being treated for cancer and leukaemia and for our very lovely Kate Marchesi.

I would be incredibly grateful, as ever, for any donations, as every single penny will count. I sincerely thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity.

Thank you so much, loads of love,

Donna Xx

(I think you can choose which charity to donate to, otherwise, any donations will be equally divided).