Krishiv Kalra

I'm taking on Challenge 80 for Young Lives vs Cancer.

This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I’m taking on Challenge 80 for Young Lives vs Cancer. Each of us will be completing 80 miles in September to support children and young people with cancer.

Why 80 miles? Because that’s the average journey a family facing cancer has to travel from home to a specialist treatment centre. And now, with the rise in cost of living, families are struggling more than ever to afford these journeys. On top of fuel, there are parking payments, overnight stays, and food costs—all while income is reduced. Working full time while caring for your child with cancer is almost impossible.

This is where Young Lives vs Cancer steps in. They help families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. But they need our help.

• £12 could re-stock the kitchen cupboards at a Home from Home so a family can enjoy a home-cooked meal together.

• £26 could pay for an hour with a Young Lives vs Cancer Specialist Social Worker, helping families cope with the emotional, practical, and financial effects of cancer.

• £70 could pay for a night in a Young Lives vs Cancer Home from Home, giving families a free place to stay close to hospital during treatment.

I’ve seen the impact of cancer firsthand—two of my aunts have been through it. Cancer is horrible. It changes everything, from daily hospital visits and injections to losing the joy of your favourite foods, always followed by a bitter aftertaste. And it doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed—it shakes the whole family.

When someone hears the words “You have cancer”, fear takes over.

• Fear of painful treatment.

• Fear of families being torn apart.

• Fear of overwhelming costs.

• Fear of having no one to turn to.

And every single day, 12 more children and young people face that reality.

That’s why I’m running—not just for the challenge, but for them. I’ve already committed to running 1 mile every day in August, and now I’ll be pushing through 80 miles this September. Because every step matters.

Your support can make a real difference. Whether you give £5 or £500, every donation helps. Even £25 could provide vital support to a young person or their family—guidance from a social worker, or help covering the cost of travel to treatment.

Please join me in supporting this good cause. Together, we can ease the fear and give families strength when they need it most.