Earlier this year, after being inspired by the achievements of many friends from Serpentine running club, and after perhaps a couple too many drinks on our annual training trip in Lanzarote, I decided to sign up for my first triathlon – a 70.3 Half Ironman taking place on 15 October in Poreč, Croatia. Although I’ve completed several marathons over the past few years, training and preparing for the triathlon has been a completely new experience for me.

I’ve chosen to take on this challenge in honour of my father, Robert Taylor, as after all, he was the person who taught me how to swim and ride a bike many years ago. Unfortunately, Robert was diagnosed with a rare type of melanoma in 2012 and has been fighting the effects of this disease ever since.

Although melanoma is the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK, there is generally less awareness and understanding of it than other cancers, and there are still very limited options available to treat it. Melanoma UK is a charity that seeks to change this, by funding research into new treatments and educational initiatives on prevention.

I’d be really grateful if you’d like to support me as I set out to swim, cycle and run a total of 70.3 miles in Croatia. Any amount you can spare will really help make a difference to people living with and battling the effects of melanoma.

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