Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

All of us have personal experiences of cancer and the devasting effects it has not just on the individual, but also on their wider circle of friends and family. Living day to day with the uncertainty and watching loved ones suffer makes the work Cancer Research UK carries out so important, as it also covers the vast variety of cancers there are out there, and not just the well known ones.

In April 2013 I decided that I wanted to run the Virgin London Marathon in 2014 for a cancer charity. Having never really seriously run before. I joined a beginners running group to achieve a 5km run, and at the same time put my name down for the VLM ballot.

Achieving my first 5km run 6 weeks later felt incredible, and I now regularly run at my local Bushy Park run on a Saturday morning.

The next challenge was 10km, and in July I ran the London British 10km race around the sites of our great city. That was pretty scary as it was my first proper race. But with the sun out and the support of the crowds, an amazing feeling to take part and complete it in 54 minutes 45 seconds.

Now I am just 2 weeks away from my first Half Marathon (13.1 miles) at Henley on the 13th October.This has been the toughest training of all so far, and I'm under no illusions that it will only get harder from here. 

So how can you help?

I have just heard that I've been lucky enough to win a ballot place on my first attempt and have chosen Cancer Research UK to raise as much money as I possibly can for. I'm thinking big, with a target of £5,000, and that's where you come in...

During those long Wintery training runs in the cold and dark, the motivation of knowing that your support will mean that our combined efforts will help eventually eradicate this dreadful disease, will certainly make a massive difference to me.

Your donation goes straight to Cancer Research UK and you can also text your support if you prefer by texting SWBR72, and the amount you wish to donate to 70070

Thank you so much for your support and every single donation counts no matter how large or small.

Please also let your friends and family know about my page if you feel they may want to join in. I'll be updating my progress regularly, so be sure to check back in and see how it's all going.

Finally, if you sit and watch the London Marathon every year like I do from the comfort of your sofa, thinking how crazy those people are, why not come and experience it for yourself by coming along to cheer me on. Put Sunday 13th April 2014 in your diaries now. It's going to be a fabulous day.

Stephanie

PS. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.