Some of you may know that a very close friend of mine was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 incurable lung cancer. Charlie has always been one of the keenest runners I know and, after initially thinking he had long covid, we were all totally blindsided to hear his diagnosis.

With the help of an incredible Professor at The Royal Marsden, Dr Popat, a liquid biopsy identified that Charlie has an extremely rare form of non-small cell lung cancer named ALK Positive. There is currently no cure for this type of cancer and the median life expectancy is under 7 years. At 39 and with a young family, this was, and continues to be, absolute agony for everyone involved.

Charlie, his wife Charlotte, and his daughter Poppy have set about fund raising admirably and the amazing thing about this is that every single penny donated will go directly into Professor Popat's fund for Lung Cancer Research. And they are making huge advances; the miracle pills that Charlie takes daily now, were only approved in 2015. Dr Popat has confidence that we can move closer and closer to managing ALK Positive cancer like a chronic illness, as opposed to the terminal diagnosis it is today. But, it is vital that he’s able to continue with his groundbreaking research.

So, with that said, I thought about how I could help best. My conclusion was to raise money by doing something that I will genuinely find quite tough. So, and without meaning to sound like a closet alcoholic, I’m going to forego alcohol in September. Those that know me know that I like a drink, so this will be a challenge! I would appreciate any donation you can make (literally anything). And I look forward to exiting September having taken up pottery, bird watching, the tango, and, most crucially, having hopefully made some small contribution to a cause that is so close to my heart.

Joe