5 years ago I began my journey at York. My Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer in my first year so I ran my first ever Race for Life (or indeed any fundraising race...) to show my Mum my support. Three months after I completed my first 5k, my Mum lost her battle and I lost the best Mum anyone could ever ask for. I pledged to run the Race for Life every year in her memory in hopes that nobody else would have to lose someone they love to a shitty disease like cancer.

Last year I finally completed my undergraduate degree and to celebrate, I knocked up my race-game to 10k...this year is my fifth and final year at York, my fifth Race for Life and I'm going for 10k again, on the 5th July 2015 (Mum's birthday), and I want to raise £500.

I don't like sharing my story usually because it sounds sentimental to most people, and it's not. It's not a sob story it's just what happened. Running the Race for Life is one of the hardest things I do every year because my Mum isn't at the finish line (and because I'm terrible at running, even after 5 years of doing the race!). It's hard because I have to run beside 100s of people all with other dedications on their backsigns, and I'm just one of those people that's lost someone they love to cancer. It's hard because half way round I realise no matter how far or fast I run, I'm not going to see my Mum again. But 1000s of people are battling cancer right now and they might just win. 1 in 3 people are affected by cancer, but more people are surviving now than ever and that's why I'm running. 

My Mum lost her battle but we can still win the war - and every pound we raise goes into some seriously life-saving research and care for cancer patients and their families.

If you can give a pound or more that would be awesome, and if you can gift aid it, even better!

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I'm joining Cancer Research UK's Race for Life this year. Please join the fight by digging deep and sponsoring me - it's quick, easy and totally secure.

Events like this are vital in funding Cancer Research UK's life-saving work into preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer. By sponsoring me, we can unite and create an army that cancer can't ignore. By sponsoring me, we will beat cancer sooner.

Don't forget to add Gift Aid

If you're a UK taxpayer, please remember to tick the Gift Aid box as this will increase your donation by at least 25% at no extra cost to you.

Sponsor me now, and help me show cancer that hell hath no fury like a woman in pink.