This is my first marathon, and I'm doing it for three reasons:

1) My lovely friend ran the Dublin marathon and I am jealous of her medal; I want one! 

2) Another lovely friend's younger brother persuaded me to run the Manchester marathon as I was unsuccessful in the ballot for the London one. I think I was drunk when I paid £50 to sign up to run 26.2 miles! 

3) I like telling people that I'm running a marathon! 

I picked The Christie's because it's a cancer hospital in my home town of sunny Stockport. Cancer affects us all... we all know someone who has been diagnosed of cancer, and very sadly I know people that were very close to my heart that died of it. 

So I'm putting myself through running a marathon (and the 16 weeks of running four times a week) in memory of my best friend's mum and best friend's dad! 

And I will run in memory of anyone you know too.

Please dig deep and make a difference to the lives of people being treated for cancer, their family and friends. 

If you're in Manchester on Sunday 6 April, please do come and support me - make me a banner and shout me when I 'run' past you. I will need you there every mile! 

Lots of love,

Fran xx