On 24 May, I'll be putting on my running shoes and attempting a half-marathon, as part of the University of Manchester's Purple Wave 2020, to help re-write the future of cancer. We all know someone whose life has been changed by cancer, which is why researchers in Manchester are working hard to improve how cancer is treated and help more patients with cancer get back to normal life.This is where we can help. 

Working in partnership with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Cancer Research UK, The University of Manchester is building a world-leading cancer research centre. The new centre will bring together the largest concentration of scientists, doctors and nurses in Europe all working together to tackle cancer head-on. 

Witnessing and experiencing first hand the devastation of the Paterson Building fire and how it affected the functioning of many research labs, including our own, makes this run very personal to me. Although most labs have now been temporarily re-homed and are functioning well again, we have lost our "hub" which is vital within the science community. This centre will recreate this communal space, complete with state-of-the-art technology and housing the best scientists, doctors and nurses; it will become the heart of pioneering research once again. 

Please join me in re-writing the future of cancer by sponsoring me today! Find out more about how the University is re-writing cancer here: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/collaborate/give/appeals/rewrite-cancer/. Thank you!