St Mark's Hospital Foundation is committed to creating a world free of the fear of bowel disease, a cause close to my heart since I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in January 2013. Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK for both men and women.

St Mark's Hospital is NHS-funded and leads the field in treating complex bowel conditions but their Foundation, which carries out research, training and education, relies on donations and grants for its funding.

In the field of bowel cancer treatment, St Mark's was instrumental in the development of endoscopies to detect and remove pre-cancerous polyps and pioneered the use of keyhole surgery for removing tumours. They are now trialling equipment to remove early-stage tumours through the back passage, after which the patient could be discharged within 24 hours.

Another project underway is the development of sections of artifical bowel, to use on patients who have lost sections of colon through diseases such as Crohn's. This is not theoretical research, this is happening right now.

St Mark's Hospital Foundation is unusual in that much of the research is carried out within the hospital by practicing medics. That makes it extremely well targeted and very cost-effective.

I am convinced that supporting St Mark's is the best way to improve the treatment of all kinds of bowel disease.

All the Colon Challenge riders are paying their own costs, so every single pound you donate will go to St Mark's - plus the Gift Aid, if you add that too.

Thank you for your support.