As part of London 3 Peaks, I will be one of 500 challengers taking part in Stand Up To Cancer’s endurance and adrenaline event. London 3 Peaks combines challenging tower runs up three of London’s tallest buildings, a 5K run between locations, and an abseil off the third tower as the ultimate finale! The buildings I will have to conquer are The Gherkin, Salesforce Tower London and 200 Aldersgate, which will also host the 56 metre abseil.

So, why am I doing this?

Most of us know somebody who is affected by this dreadful disease, since January of this year, 3 people who I know have been diagnosed with cancer of some description. Not only is it a terrifying journey for the patients but the family, friends and people involved in their journey as well. As part of their journey, they have to put their bodies through intense treatments and feelings that I cannot even begin to imagine so I have decided to take myself out of my comfort zone and push my boundaries to limits I wouldn’t normally consider. One of my biggest fears is heights so abseiling from a 56 metre building seems like the most logical way to take me away from my equilibrium and test my mental and physical strength. It is going to take a lot of determination, endurance and courage to push my fears aside in aid of this amazing cause. Your generous donations will not only make a huge difference to this worthwhile cause but it will also give me the encouragement I need to complete this challenge.

Who am I doing this for? (All people mentioned have given me permission to tell their story)

1. My Mother

5 years my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had to undergo several surgeries from lumpectomies to finally having to have a mastectomy. This was a very traumatic time for my mum as part of her femininity was being taken away. Thankfully she was able to have reconstructive surgery to aid in her rehabilitation to feel more like a woman again. After this ordeal, my mum was given the ‘all clear’ after 6 months which allowed our family to move forward from this traumatic time. We were all thankful and grateful to all staff involved in her treatment as things were starting to look positive. Sadly, on January 8th 2015 my mum was diagnosed with secondary cancer of the bone. The diagnosis came after my mum visited the doctor complaining of severe back pains, the doctor sent her for MRI scans and blood tests to determine the cause. When the results confirmed the cancer was back but this time it was incurable, the family’s world fell apart. Nobody wants to be told such devastating news or to hear the word incurable, however, radiotherapy treatment and chemotherapy have been recommended to prolong the inevitable and give my mum a better chance of spending more time with the family. To help with pain management, she has had her radiotherapy and now has a mini pharmacy in the kitchen cupboard – she will be starting her chemotherapy treatment any day now. With strength, determination and lots of courage we are all battling together!

2. Hannah

I first heard of Hannah’s story through being friends with her mum, not only was I shocked but also saddened that this horrible disease has affected such a beautiful, young girl. This is when I realised that cancer doesn’t discriminate against age, sex or nationality. It does not care who you are or how many people it will affect! (Hannah’s family have consented to me using her story)

Hannah is 11 years old and has been diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Birketts lymphoma (B cell lymphoma). She is being treated at Sheffield Children's Hospital, she was diagnosed on January 9th 2015 and started treatment the same day. Hannah’s journey started last October when a lump appeared on her neck, she literally walked in to her Nan’s kitchen without a lump and walked out 5 minutes later with one. Over the course of the week it grew and became painful so on the Saturday she was taken to A&E and was diagnosed with an infected lymph node. Her mum and her spent 8 nights in Doncaster Royal Infirmary and during that time she had it drained and biopsied which came back clear. Later, they saw a consultant who thought it was a brancial cyst and he decided to operate. After the biopsy test and draining, the lump began to shrink. An appointment was made for the lump to be operated on, on 6th January, however, at the start of December it started to grow again. The family, doctors and Hannah believe that around this time, the lump was more than previously diagnosed. On 6th January, Hannah and her family arrived at DRI for her surgery, however, during the surgery, the surgeon found there was nothing he could do at this stage and decided to take another biopsy. On the 9th January 2015, after having MRI scans and CT scans, the lump was diagnosed as Non Hodgkins Birketts lymphoma – which is a very aggressive and uncommon form of cancer. Hannah has had numerous chemotherapy sessions which has caused her gorgeous, long blonde hair to fall out and caused a number of other side effects. She is the bravest 11 year old I have ever known!! Keep fighting Hannah!!!

3. Mark

I heard about Mark’s fight against this destructive disease after spending time with his Mum and Dad. Mark has 3 young daughters and a wife, he was a fit 38 year old man when he was diagnosed which shows just how disgusting the disease is! His daughters were too young to understand why daddy could no longer play with them or lift them like he once did.

Mark was diagnosed in October 2013 with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Since then he has had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant for which 5 million stem cells were removed from his body , cleansed and stored until he could be put into isolation in the Beatson Hospital in Glasgow, and have them transplanted back into his body. Unfortunately, this didn't work and so more treatment had to be found. Thanks to Cancer Research he is now receiving a new drug and has since had another stem cell treatment which so far looks positive. Due to his treatment he has lost over 8 stone and has been having the use a wheelchair. Throughout it all he has been determined to fight, unfortunately after a routine hospital appointment, the doctors discovered that Mark also has cancer in his arm. He is currently undergoing treatment and remains having the positive attitude he has always shown.

All three of these people are showing how brave, strong and determined they are in their unique journey’s to overcome the most intense challenge they will ever have to face. Therefore, I want to show how proud I am of all of them in their individual battles by pushing myself beyond my own limits and doing what I can to show my upmost respect for their daily struggles. For them, their feelings and battles are a daily struggle, for me it will last a few hours although this is in no way a comparison of their ongoing fights! If they can be strong and give everything they can to their situation and their fears that come with that then I can easily overcome mine!