On the 9th January I was offered a place in this years London Marathon. After picking myself up off the floor this is what went through my head...

1) WTF

2) I watch this every year on telly, bawl my eyes out and always say I’m doing it one day!

3) Things always happen for a reason - no matter how absurd it may seem at the time

4) Maybe I could walk it?

5)WTF

And the next thought decided it for me

6)Siobhan Mather

As some of you know I’ve been diagnosed with cancer twice. First with kidney cancer in 2013 following the birth of my daughter Daphne, then last year it was skin cancer.

BUT I beat it twice. I know the power and strength of my body and mind. If I can take on that battle twice in my life and win , then I can certainly have a go at a marathon!

Cancer changed me forever, I know the feeling of total loss of control, the fear of losing everything and feeling vulnerable in a way I’d never experienced before. But it also taught me to fight, to take nothing for granted and appreciate just how bloody wonderful life is!

Things happen for a reason and this marathon has been presented to me. It was meant to be. It’s my chance to help Siobhan with her fight and stick two fingers up to cancer

I started training on 12th January (I know how rediculous - right?) and I’m not lying when I say it’s been some time since I excercised (circa 2007!). Plus throw into the mix I’ve never gone for a run. (To the bar maybe for last orders - but that’s about it!)

So here I am 3 times a week, fancy runners, banging chunes, of course a high impact sports bra and I’m loving it! Forget couch to 5K, I’m doing couch to 42K in just 3 months! It won’t be pretty but I’m doing this!

The biggest driving force is the opportunity to help Siobhan. All of your donations will be going to the bravest, strongest person I know. She’s a fighter and is giving her all, but she needs our help to stand a better chance of winning this battle.

So read her story,  be inspired and help Siobhan win the fight of her life.

“On 1st May 2015 a beautiful angel was born, Siobhan  Mather. She bought fun and feistiness with her independent character to everyone around her. On 1st July 2017, aged just 2, Siobhan became lethargic and was taken to her GP. After being referred to Barnet General Hospital, it was discovered she had a tumour. She was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) where she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare child cancer. Neuroblastoma is a very rare cancer and only 100 children per year are diagnosed in the U.K. Siobhan has undergone various treatments in the UK and to further her chances of a full recovery she needs a vaccine which is only available in America, but still has a long way to go! She is the bravest 2-year-old girl and is taking everything that this terrible disease can throw at her in her stride. High-risk neuroblastoma has a high chance of relapse; and relapsed Neuroblastoma has low survival rates. Relapsed Neuroblastoma is the most dangerous form of the disease. There is no standard relapse protocol for relapsed Neuroblastoma, which means clinical trials are often the only hope for many children. Such clinical trials are rarely available via the NHS, so where families wish to access this treatment, their only option is abroad, in the hope of helping them beat cancer. In the USA, there have been a number of trials with high success rates. The cost for the course of treatment, as well as the associated costs of travelling abroad to access it are estimated in the region of £220,000. “