I started this year telling myself I wanted to throw myself out of my comfort zone, challenge myself like never before and do something that scares me; well, walking 100km across the Sahara Desert ticks all of those boxes and does it for an incredible cause to boot.

18 months ago my brilliant friend and university housemate Lucy was diagnosed with breast cancer, aged 36, after realising something wasn't right. Fast forward, post-chemo, radiation and one mastectomy later she's thankfully here to tell the tale, but if she hadn't had the confidence to recognise a symptom and push for it to be checked out it could be another story. 

Anyone who knows me will be familiar with my lack of physical prowess; I used to pay my friends to do my races on sports day, I've had a lifelong hatred of sports and exercise and I'm the least likely person to sign up for a gruelling physical challenge in the heat of the desert. Which is why I'm hoping you will all realise what a MASSIVE DEAL this actually is for me and dig deep to sponsor my insanity for this brilliant cause!

If you aren't familiar with CoppaFeel!, it's the first UK breast cancer charity to create awareness amongst young people, with the aim to install a new healthy habit that could one day save a life. Founded by the brilliant Kris Hallenga after she was misdiagnosed at 23 - being told she was too young to have breast cancer - 13 years later they are on a mission to stamp out late detection of breast cancer and ensure the nation is checking their boobs regularly, because knowing your boobs could save your life.

Apparently 39% of women in the UK don't check their breasts regularly for potential signs of breast cancer, but would you know what to look for anyway? CoppaFeel! wants to educate people on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, encourage them to get to know what is normal for them and empower young people to have the confidence to see a doctor if they notice anything that isn't right for them.

So please, whether it's £5 or £50 or £500, whatever you can spare would be enormously appreciated. I'm sure we sadly all know someone who's been affected by breast cancer, so I'm doing this for Lucy, for Kris, for the friends at school who lost their mums, and for everyone else whose lives have been changed by this disease.