I first signed up for the Hospice Half Marathon back in 2020. Then Covid happened, life paused, and the race was deferred. By the time it came around again in 2023, I was recovering from major surgery and had just been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer.

So this run has been a long time coming.

Since my diagnosis, I’ve been through two major operations, now live with a permanent stoma, and have completed 27 rounds of chemotherapy. I’m currently on a break from treatment and, if the cancer plays ball, I’m hoping to train consistently and make it to the start line...and the finish line

Along the way, I’ve had to face conversations and realities I never expected to have in my 30s, including thinking about end-of-life care. Hopefully, not for a very long time yet… but it’s changed how I see things.

Hospice care is something most of us will encounter in some way during our lives, for ourselves, or for someone we love. The care, dignity, comfort and compassion they provide is extraordinary, and something I believe deserves all the support we can give.

Running this half marathon now means more to me than it ever did before. It’s not just about the distance, it’s about resilience, gratitude, and proving to myself that even after everything my body has been through, it’s still capable of amazing things (even if it complains loudly along the way).

Training will not be easy, and there are days when chemo fatigue, scars, dodgy joints and sheer stubbornness all come into play, but that just makes crossing the finish line even more meaningful.

I feel incredibly privileged to be able to run, to raise money for hospice care, and to do something I’ve wanted to do for years, with a whole new perspective on life.

My goal is £333 because I’m 33 on 3rd March and I’m leaning fully into my lucky number energy ✨
Every donation, big or small, helps Hospice continue the incredible work they do.

Thank you so much for supporting me, cheering me on, and helping to raise vital funds for a charity that truly touches so many lives.