Leyton Lewis

Thank you and why

5K Every Day in June 🏃‍♂️💛

A Big Thank You — And Why This Actually Matters

When I signed up to run 5K every day throughout June for Young Lives vs Cancer, I thought the hardest part would be the running.

Turns out it’s actually:

• convincing my legs to work before coffee ☕
• pretending shin splints are “part of the experience”
• and discovering that 5K somehow feels longer when it’s raining sideways in Britain.

But seriously — I wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has donated, shared the fundraiser, checked in, or even just encouraged me along the way. It genuinely means a lot. Every donation, no matter the size, goes towards helping families going through something unimaginably difficult.

And honestly, the more I’ve learned about what Young Lives vs Cancer actually do day-to-day, the more I realised this challenge is about a lot more than just clocking steps on Strava.

What Young Lives vs Cancer Actually Do 💛

Every day, children and young people across the UK hear the words nobody ever wants to hear: “you have cancer.”

But cancer doesn’t just affect health. It affects:

• family life
• finances
• mental health
• education
• work
• relationships
• literally everything.

That’s where Young Lives vs Cancer step in.

They help children and young people with cancer — and their families — from diagnosis onwards. That can include:

• specialist social workers
• financial grants for families struggling with costs
• free accommodation close to hospitals
• emotional support
• help getting young people back into school or work
• support after treatment ends too.

Because the reality is: cancer doesn’t stop being difficult the second treatment finishes.

One thing that really hit me is that many families have to travel miles and miles for treatment, sometimes staying away from home for weeks or months. Imagine trying to hold normal life together while also dealing with hospital visits, fear, exhaustion and bills piling up. That’s the sort of pressure this charity helps relieve.

And while I’m complaining about running in mild drizzle, there are kids showing more bravery in a single hospital appointment than most adults manage in a lifetime.

Puts things into perspective pretty quickly.

Why I’m Doing This 🏃‍♂️

I wanted to challenge myself physically, yes… but mainly I wanted to do something that actually helps people.

Running 5K every single day in June means:

• tired legs
• questionable motivation
• a new emotional relationship with ibuprofen
• and probably becoming overly dramatic every time there’s a hill.

But if it raises awareness, starts conversations, and helps raise money for a charity doing incredible work every single day — then it’s worth every sweaty kilometre.

Thank You ❤️

To everyone who has donated already: thank you. Seriously.

You’re helping support families during some of the hardest moments of their lives, and that matters more than you probably realise.

And if you haven’t donated but have supported me by sharing posts, sending encouragement, or pretending my running updates aren’t annoying — thank you too 😂

I’ll keep pushing through the miles all June.

Even the ones where my legs feel like jelly.