On 27 April 2025, I will be running my 11th London Marathon for Cancer Research UK (CRUK).

I have again qualified with a Good for Age place this year which means that again, I have no obligation whatsoever to fundraise. But why wouldn’t I? Having lost so many loved ones to this terrible disease, I want to do my bit to see as many people as possible survive cancer. 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. This is how far we have come:

• In the 1970s, 1 in 4 people diagnosed with cancer survived it for 10 years or more.

• Today, 2 in 4 people diagnosed with cancer survive it for 10 years or more.

• With ground-breaking research and discoveries, early diagnosis and kinder and more effective treatments, its our aim to see 3 in 4 people surviving cancer by 2034. That is only 9 years away.

• CRUK receives no Government funding. In order to achieve these goals, the need to continue fundraising is bigger than ever.

I have lost my boss Emma, mum Marion, brother Rob, uncle Doug and more recently, two friends to cancer. I have a number of friends who have thankfully beaten cancer due to early diagnosis, pioneering and effective treatments, and this is why I will continue to fundraise for Cancer Research UK for as long as I am able.

Thank you all so much for your continued and unwavering support.

Together we are beating cancer……..

Debs xxx

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