It is sobering to realise that breast cancer is one of those things that touches the lives of nearly everybody. Even if it hasn't affected your closest family or friends, it is almost a certainty that you know someone that has been affected by this dreadful disease.

In my case, family members and friends have gone through it. In all cases, they have survived, though unsurprisingly none are unchanged by the experience, and the impact ripples out to affect families and friends too.

That so many people beat cancer is a direct testament to the work and dedication of doctors and scientists in researching and developing new methods of detection and new means of treatment that mean far more people will be likely to beat cancer. But make no mistake, tens of thousands of women still die from this disease every week and more work is needed.

That's why I wanted to help support a world class project instigated here at work. Each week a different member of staff or a student from the University of Nottingham will take part in a run in the UK or abroad wearing a special VEST ON A QUEST! I'm going to be running the Woodhall Spa 10k on Sunday, 02 June.

As well as raising awareness of the vital work being carried out at the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, the Vest Questers will also be raising money to help support our world-leading research team, and you can help us! By making a donation you will be helping our researchers to:

- Develop a blood test to detect breast cancer earlier
- Stop breast cancer spreading around the body
- Develop effective targeted treatments.

If you are able to spare anything to support the vital work of the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, I would be very grateful, and you can be assured that the money will go towards ensuring that more people survive in future.