Some of my earliest childhood memories are very different to those of my friends. Mine were 'playing' up and down Ward 15 at the Birmingham Children's Hospital, myself and my brother Ethan, both connected to own drip machines seeing who could go the fastest. Some of my first words were things like 'Magic sleep' and 'wiggles' which were associated with the chemotherapy that I had to have.

In September 2006 I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia following a routine blood test. My twin brother Ethan had been diagnosed with the same illness nearly one year before. The doctors told my parents that because Ethan and I were identical it was highly likely I would also contract the illness.

My treatment was intense chemotherapy for the first year and then 2 years of tablet form and injection chemo. My brother and I spent a lot of time in and out of the Children's Hospital, there wasn't many wards that between us we hadn't stayed on!

It was during our years of treatment that we first became introduced to the charity Children with Cancer. I remember going on lots of trips with many other children and them helping and supporting my parents.

I am now 18 years of age and one of my passions is fitness. I have decided to run the London Marathon to raise awareness and much needed funds for this great charity in the hope that lots of other children and families can be given some of the same opportunities that we had during those years.

Thank you.