My brave daughter Connie has been on an incredible journey. One we didn’t see coming, nor ever wished to be on. We’re grateful that she’s now a year out of cancer treatment to a brain tumour, discovered by chance - an event that truly rocked our world.

Connie’s recovery has been unbelievably tough, although the early words of her neurosurgeon always stuck with me - ‘this is a marathon, not a sprint’. Not an optional run; a survival run. She continues to thrive and amaze us, which has inspired me to take on a marathon of my own, in London, with my friend Lucy Bradley.

Running (albeit very slowly!) helped me through those dark days, clearing and resetting my mind, to tackle everything that was being thrown our way. Now, we want to help support those other fighters out there, by raising money for Brain Tumour Research.

Brain tumours are the biggest cancer in children, with c.500 children and young people being diagnosed each year, receiving the same terrible news we did. Research offers the only real hope of dramatic breakthroughs in the management and treatment of brain tumours, although receives less than 3% of the overall £700M spent on cancer research in the UK.

Although hugely out of both our comfort zones, Lucy and I are rising to the challenge, and in raising at least £7000 for this amazing charity and their crucial work to help those that need it most.

We’ll do it, one step at a time, just as Connie did. Please give generously and follow her on Instagram @connie_ourwarriorprincess

Big love

Tina and Lucy