As you all know, I was struck down with cancer in January 2023. This came totally out of the blue and there was no warning. My life was turned upside down and I spent the best part of six months in and out of Ward 11 at Bournemouth Hospital.

Without making me well up, I am still here because of the amazing team at Ward 11. From the consultants, sisters, nurses, HCA's and even the tea and coffee staff, they looked after me, gave me endless banter and laughs and made the worst experience of my life as best as it could be.

Yes, you could say my positivity got me over the line but the fact I almost didn't make it after coming down with sepsis means I owe them a debt, I'll never be able to repay.

So, I want to give them something back and after speaking to University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity it has been agreed that if I run the Bournemouth Half Marathon on 13th October the money raised will go towards the Cancer Care Fund, which Ward 11 will have access to.

I shouldn't have to say how valuable the NHS is and you will be sad to hear that Ward 11 is always full and when you think that this is a Haematology Ward (Blood Cancer) you get a picture of how many people are going through the same battle I did.

I am one of the lucky ones who came out the other end but Ward 11 needs all the help it can get so if I can raise £1,000 for them, I can hand on heart say, the money will go to good use.

Thank you for reading this.