Lu Brookes

Mile Tracker

Thursday 29th Jan A photograph of the Jog 31 Miles in January mile tracker, a grid filled in to record how many miles completed for the cause. Share

31 Miles Complete!!!

Thursday 29th Jan Share

Halfway There and a PB!

Thursday 22nd Jan It's been a hot minute since I last updated - I wanted to get to the halfway point before making another post!

I passed the 16.5 mile mark during a run yesterday, putting me at 18 miles in total. It was my first 5k event of 2026, and of course I wore my Royal Marsden Cancer Charity shirt! Not only did I manage to pace myself in the (thankfully light!) drizzle and avoid large puddles, I clocked in a personal best for 5km: 31 minutes and 10 seconds!

I've got 13 miles left, which I've got planned out over the next few days. I never expected to be running almost three 5kms in a week, and it's thanks to the motivation from your support. I'd love to reach my target of £200 raised by the end, and we're so close!

If you're a tax payer in the UK, you can claim Gift Aid on your donation which means The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity will receive a little more money at no extra cost to you. Whatever you can give, be it something small or even just sharing my page, you'll be helping cancer patients, their families and the incredible researchers who are all fighting to kick this disease's butt. Share

A Little Break!

Wednesday 7th Jan No running for me for a little bit, currently in the French Alps for a ski trip! Normal updates will resume next week. Share

Goal Smashed & Day 1 Complete!

Thursday 1st Jan Share

My Story

Tuesday 23rd Dec I'd come back from a ski holiday in January 2024 with suspected gastroenteritis. Having struggled with suspected IBS for years prior, it was the final straw for me to get a diagnosis. 

I had tests to rule out IBD and Crohn's which would then confirm my symptoms were because of IBS. Coming out of the final procedure, a colonoscopy, my doctor told me everything was all clear and normal. But the ultrasound had found lumps on my liver.

I went for an MRI. Though I was assured they were likely nothing, there's always that one intrusive thought that goes: "But what if?", that somehow manages to drown out logic and reason. 

Waiting for the results was anxiety-inducing, especially when I received a call from The Royal Marsden. That's the cancer hospital, right? A quick search confirmed yes, the cancer specialists. I'd had no symptoms; the NHS website says they're not always there and can be hard to spot. What if I had liver cancer at the age of 33?


I underwent a robotic left hepatectomy at The Royal Marsden in May '24 to remove the lump and part of my liver. From admission to leaving the hospital, I don't think I would have recovered as quickly as I did were it not for the amazing team at the Marsden supporting me. The lump turned out to be 5cm in size; my gall bladder was also removed, given that it had fused to my liver. 

I started running after getting clearance from my surgeon a month later (see pic!), and in almost 18 months I've built up my strength and stamina - completing two 5ks this year and ultimately proving to myself that I can do things, it just takes time, patience, and giving yourself some grace.

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