I am taking part in the Macmillan Cancer Support Regent's Park 10k Run dressed as a bad fairy in memory of three dear friends who passed away from cancer over the past 18 months.  Their lives were so different but each was awesome in their own way and each life was cut short by cancer.

Gill Conquest, who would have been 33 today (29 May), was an exceptionally gifted anthropologist - she worked at the crossover between ethnography, development and smartphone technology.  She was also a talented and enthusiastic panto performer - writing, directing and starring in shows including performances for people who otherwise would not be able to see plays.  She was one of the most vivacious and cheerful people I have ever met.  She planned to take part in this event in full panto costume and a group of her friends are running this event in costume in tribute to her.

I met Symon Capp at Kentwell Hall - a Tudor re-enactment in Suffolk.  Symon was an exceptional lute player and spoon carver - I treasure several of the spoons he made but more than that I treasure memories of his kindness, good humour and enthusiasm.  I remember how he always came to thank the cooks for the Tudor meals we prepared and took part in all the business of the gentry with charm and good humour.  Outside Kentwell he volunteered with the Youth Hostel Association and other organisations.  His smile and twinkling eyes are among my enduring memories of Kentwell.

I met Sarah Illingworth when I worked at Breakthrough Breast Cancer and we remained good friends after I left the charity. Sarah devoted a great deal of her free time in her final years to serving as a trustee of Breakthrough and the organisation benefited so much from her wisdom and enthusiasm and courage,  I benefited from her generosity and friendship and people affected by breast cancer benefited from, and will continue to benefit from, her dedicated campaigning and fundraising. 

It was a privilege to know each of these people - my life was made richer by their friendship and poorer by their loss.  Some of them were assisted by Macmillan Cancer Support.  Macmillan is a fantastic charity. It not only funds nurses to support patients from their initial diagnosis throughout their illness but also provides high quality information resources and a helpline to provide advice and support to people affected by cancer including those who are grieving the loss of a loved one to this disease.  Macmillan has campaigned on several important issues, including securing free hospital parking for people attending cancer treatment.  I was lucky enough to be seconded to Macmillan when I worked as a charity solicitor and saw first hand the high degree of professionalism and dedication exhibited by all who work at the charity.   

Please support this charity - it is tempting to think we can do nothing in the face of cancer but we can do this.