Why did you choose your charity?

I’m running the 2022 London Marathon to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity very close to my heart. In March 2021, my amazing wife Crystal was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer and as you can imagine, our lives were instantly turned upside down. After 12 months of treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a double mastectomy Crystal is doing brilliantly, and remains an inspiration to us all.

We will be forever thankful to the incredible NHS and all consultants, surgeons, doctors and nurses who looked after Crystal. They are superheroes, and we are all so lucky to have them. However, over this time I learnt that there are a whole host of other incredible organisations who are dedicated to offer support in those dark times. One of which for us was Macmillan Cancer Support.

From the very moment of diagnoses, to advice on telling our children, all the way through to recovery after the operation, the Macmillan nurses were on-hand to offer Crystal support. Also, in some of my darkest moments during Crystal’s treatment, I used some of the Macmillan support offered to those supporting loved ones with Cancer.

As all the support we received from Macmillan was funded by charitable donations, for me this is a chance to give back. I would love to ‘pay it forward’, to ensure that others who have battles ahead receive the same support we did from this amazing charity.

How are you challenging yourself?

I will be running the London Marathon in October 2022. I have always enjoyed running. but have never run never further than a half-marathon - and I was a lot younger at the time! At the moment it feels quite a daunting task, but I have started training and I’m certain running for such a brilliant cause will help me over the line.

How will the money you raise help?

There’s around 3 million people living with cancer in the UK today, and over 360,000 more are diagnosed every year. Right now, millions of people with cancer are counting on Macmillan for physical, financial, and emotional support.

The sad truth is, the chances are we will all require Macmillan’s support at some point of our lives, either directly or through a loved one, and trust me, when that time comes you will appreciate their support.