Every two minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer. Sadly, we all will know someone whose been affected by cancer in one way or another. It takes and shortens lives, causes suffering and pain and can be a scary and unpredictable journey for those living with cancer and supporting them.

And yet medical and scientific advances are improving, helping us to better understand cancer and how it can be prevented treated and hopefully one day cured.

That's why the four of us firm friends of over 25 years have decided to do our bit by taking steps to finish cancer. Lianne, Anne, Louise and Louisa are running the Royal Parks Half Marathon for The Institute of Cancer Research.

Pro athletes Greg Rutherford and Erin Kennedy have been running 100 miles of UK beaches imprinting finish cancer in the sand 167,000 times. This symbolises the number of people who tragically die of cancer every year in the UK.

Our 13.1 miles might seem like a small feat in comparison but it is already proving a huge challenge for us as a group, never mind the lack of summer weather as we get stuck in to our training plans!

We want to complete this for the people we love who have fought and are fighting cancer. Times are tough right now and we know it's not easy for people to support charities, but if you can spare even a few pounds it would really help to lift our legs through the race knowing we are contributing to cancer research.

Some of you will know how personal this is to us, but here are some messages from our team:

Lianne: For the heartbreakingly long list of names I don’t want to write for fear of forgetting one. For Melissa, my cousin who lost her battle, but who’s adventurous soul encourages me to question ‘what am I waiting for?’ And for Richard, a wonderful family friend currently fighting.

Anne: In 2003, some years after my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer, she signed us both up to join the breast cancer generations research study, delivered by the ICR. Twenty years later, many blood samples given and survey questions answered, this study has produced more than 40 research papers - contributing new evidence in the fight against breast cancer. While my mum is sadly no longer here to see the positive impact that this has had - she understood that research is what gives people hope for a brighter future and why it was so important that we took part - and that I continue to take part. But these studies need funding and that’s why I’m running the half and hoping to raise some money too. While you may never know who your next pound will help - you can be sure that by donating to the ICR it will give hope to so many people facing down this heartbreaking disease, now and for decades to come.

Louise:For all my family and friends who have been affected by cancer: fighting it, surviving it, supporting loved ones through their battle and in memory of those who have sadly lost their lives to it. People I miss everyday. For all my patients and their families whose lives are being turned upside down with new diagnoses, relentless treatments, constant fear but unwavering hope.

I am proud to be supporting the fantastic work the Institute of Cancer Research do bringing meaning to that hope.

Louisa: For my grandad and grandpa who both lost their lives to cancer. To my uncles fighting cancer everyday and to the dearest man in my life, who inspires me everyday with how he is fighting Myeloma right now with such a strong spirit refusing to be phased by all of the intensive treatments and ups and downs of this form of bone marrow cancer. I am going to find this run a challenge but it's nothing on what people with cancer go through. Bring it on!