I'm raising money for Occtopus after my own diagnosis and treatment for bowel cancer in 2022.

Just a few weeks after successfully rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, and as fit and strong as I had ever been, I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer, aged 46.

Founded in 2003, Occtopus, or the Oxford Colon Cancer Trust charity, is a leading Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer charity. They pioneer new treatments and research for colorectal cancer, colitis and Crohn’s and influence how they are treated across the NHS.

They were an early donor to the robotic equipment used in the surgery to remove my tumour and they fund research to improve outcomes for patients like me.

Thanks to the minimally invasive surgery I had, I was back on my feet in no time and able to go back to doing the things I love - and being an active Mummy to my three young children.

Please do support Occtopus to continue the vital work they do to help patients like me.