This year, I'm taking part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon in support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money solely to support The Royal Marsden, a world-leading cancer centre. They ensure nurses, doctors and research teams can provide the very best care and develop life-saving treatments, which are used across the UK and around the world.From funding state-of-the-art equipment and ground breaking research, to creating the very best patient environments, they will never stop looking for ways to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

In September 2022 my beautiful sister, Sarah, attended a routine check-up and was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Sarah was 36 at the time (and her equally beautiful little girl, my niece, was a few months shy of her 1st birthday). I don't know what it is like to have cancer - but I do know what it is like to hold the hand of someone you love as they are diagnosed and treated, and to watch with utter admiration as they fight back with a strength that seems impossible. 

Sarah has been treated by an incredible team of doctors and nurses at the Royal Marsden. 1in 7 women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis, but thanks to extensive research and clinical trials, outcomes have improved considerably over the last two decades. Thanks to a very recent clinical trial, Sarah remains on a drug which gives a significant reduction in her recurrence risk.

I will be running with Sarah and my brother-in-law Richard - who certainly never thought he would be running a half marathon with us both! As Sarah puts it - if she can endure 5 months of chemotherapy and 60 hours in a cold cap (and the rest!), we can do this!

Thank you!