So my profile pic - this is me in 2021 - finishing the Mexico city half marathon, before I started working for Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF)...and before my hysterectomy...with cervical cancer...

The truth is just because I was born in the UK and have the privileges I've had I was able to get the treatment I needed...However if I was born in Malawi I would have likely died...more than 4,000 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in Malawi, but almost 3,000 people die from it every year.

Fast forward four years and I am very fortunate to be cancer free AND working for MSF - I couldn't be prouder - nor feel more humble. Having seen what MSF colleagues do, I am in awe...for example colleagues in Malawi who provide life saving treatment for women with one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world...(see: https://msf.org.uk/article/making-cervical-cancer-more-survivable-malawi)...

You may have seen the cuts being made to international aid, providing life saving care to millions globally...in a world with increasingly complex conflicts - both emergency and protracted (Sudan, Haiti, Gaza, Ukraine, DRC, Mali, Nigeria, South Sudan...) millions of people, women, children, families need support. These are ordinary people like you, me, who just so happen to be from a country that is caught up in conflict - and MSF helps support them, without discrepancy and independently (MSF relies on private donors like yourself to ensure our neutrality and independence from big donor agendas).

To add to the challenge I promise to try and finish this half marathon in two hours (only managed this once before) - I am determined to do this in honor of my MSF colleagues in the field and for those women in Malawi but also those in Sudan especially who are currently facing horrific, unmentionable challenges to their lives - I couldn't be as strong as they are.

If any of this inspires you, if you want to make a much needed and vital difference it would be amazing if you could sponsor me - every little bit counts and means so much for the work that MSF can do.

Thank you!

Tess

MSF is the world's leading medical humanitarian aid organisation.

We provide emergency assistance to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics and natural or man-made disasters, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

We work in over 70 countries and go to the places where others cannot or choose not to go.