In August 2015 our world was turned upside down when my lovely wife – Ann-Marie – was diagnosed with breast cancer, aged only 32. To say that this past year has been tough for her, and for all of us, would be a massive understatement.

Coming on for a year later, and Ann-Marie finally finished her gruelling schedule of treatment at the Royal Marsden in May – surgery, five months of chemotherapy and a month of daily radiotherapy - and she is now back at work. I am so proud of her.

We were fortunate enough to be able to call on a small charity only five minutes from our house for additional support through some very dark times - Cherry Lodge Cancer Care:

http://www.cherrylodgecancercare.org.uk/

Cherry Lodge is an independent charity committed to improving the quality of life for people living with cancer, their carers, family and friends. The services that Cherry Lodge provide are free of charge, and focus on the provision of high-quality cancer support, information and complementary therapies. Cherry Lodge Cancer Care is largely dependent on voluntary contributions. Less than 5% of their running costs are covered by NHS and local government grants.

From the moment we went to meet Macmillan nurses Kirsty and Fiona when Ann-Marie was first diagnosed, Cherry Lodge was an incredible source of support for both of us. I don't know what we would have done without the time we both spent there.

To raise some much-deserved money for this fantastic charity and try to help them continue the amazing work they do, I have decided to do something fittingly ambitious.

On Saturday 3^rd September I will begin to walk from Trewsbury Mead (just outside Cirencester in Gloucestershire), and over the following week I will trace the 184 miles of the River Thames from its source all the way to the Thames Barrier, aiming to arrive on Saturday 10^th:

Day 1 – Sat 3^rd Sept – Source at Trewsbury Mead to Lechlade (23 miles)

Day 2 – Sun 4^th Sept – Lechlade to Swinford (26 miles)

Day 3 – Mon 5^th Sept – Swinford to Dorchester (22 miles)

Day 4 – Tues 6^th Sept – Dorchester to Reading (22 miles)

Day 5 – Weds 7^th Sept – Reading to Cookham (24 miles)

Day 6 – Thurs 8^th Sept – Cookham to Chertsey (23 miles)

Day 7 – Fri 9^th Sept – Chertsey to Putney (23 miles)

Day 8 – Sat 10^th Sept – Putney to The Thames Barrier (20 miles)

I will be walking between 21 and 26 miles every day, more than likely meaning a few blisters along the way! A few friendly faces have said they might join me for various legs of the walk but if anyone else is free on one of the days and fancies a little stretch of the legs (especially that tantalising last leg through London!), please drop me a line. The more the merrier!

So please give generously and I hope to see some of you at the Thames Barrier for a well-earned beer on Saturday 10th!