There are few of us whose lives have been unaffected by cancer. As you probably know, my Mum lost her husband, my step-Dad, to cancer in 2005.

That was the same year my father died suddenly from a heart attack, and six months after the very distressing death of a friend from cancer.

When I started training for eventually running Race for Life last year, it seemed a simple way to try and do something positive after all that sadness and grief. It gave me a focus, and also made me feel closer to Dad who was a keen runner and a health nut.

So I will be running and Mum will be walking 5km at the Eden Project, Cornwall, on Sunday 17th June 2007. It's a short run really, but last year I came about 25th out of 1250-ish entrants so I must have done something right.

I get to train on treadmills in London and Mum gets to speed walk by the river in Cornwall, so I think I drew the short straw there...

If you could spare a few sheckles to support us, and the invaluable work of Cancer Research, we'd be much obliged. It's a little bit of silver lining in an otherwise very large black cloud.

We raised £561.50 last year so that's the figure to beat. Let's go!