I am running the Royal Parks half marathon on Sunday 9th October to highlight the #never too young campaign for Bowel Cancer UK and to support their vision for a future that no-one dies from bowel cancer . 

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer. 94% of cases are diagnosed in people over the age of 50, but bowel cancer can affect anyone of any age. Sadly more than 2,500 new cases are diagnosed each year in people under the age of 50 and many of these cases are diagnosed too late as symptoms are not correctly flagged due age. 

This campaign is important to me as I was also told that I was too young to have bowel cancer and was only diagnosed after being admitted into A&E in August 2015 for emergency life saving surgery after the tumour had grown to block my bowel.

Sadly this story is all too familiar for young bowel cancer patients and why the Bowel Cancer UK #never too young campaign is so vital!

Six years later, I am one of the incredibly lucky ones still living today  and I will be running the half marathon on behalf of all bowel cancer patients with an incredible hope that deaths from bowel cancer can be prevented in the future. 

I would be very grateful for any fundraising support, and please please take time to familiarise yourself with the symptoms with bowel cancer that can be found here. It could save your life.

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/symptoms/

PS. I am very lucky that Zachary and Arabella were very young when I was being treated for cancer and although we will tell them when they are older, they don't currently know and I would appreciate your discretion with this.

Bowel Cancer UK - We’re the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care. We’re here to stop people dying of bowel cancer.