Keren Goff has been chosen to spearhead a major nationwide campaign that invites people to take on their own running challenge and help accelerate life-saving research.

The 35-year-old, from Ely, was named this week as a year-long ‘go the distance ambassador’ by Cancer Research UK as it was unveiled as the official charity partner for next year’s London Marathon.

To celebrate its special year of running, Cancer Research UK has appointed 26 inspirational ambassadors, one to represent each mile of the marathon course.

Like Keren, each ambassador has gone the distance with cancer themselves or has supported a loved one through their cancer journey.

The unique team will now be rallying communities from all across the UK to ‘go their own distance’ for Cancer Research UK by taking up a running challenge this year - whether it’s a long-distance endurance event, a lap of their local playing field, or anything and everything in between.

Keren, who runs Fordham Boarding Cattery, is no stranger to the perils of cancer, having seen 26 friends and relatives affected by the disease.

She said: “Many people in my life have been affected by cancer including members of my family and my husband’s family, as well as friends and clients of my cattery and their relatives.

“There are 26 people affected by cancer who I know so I thought I would try to run a marathon, with one mile for each person. Having the numbers work for me was a great fundraising tool!

“My first recollection was of my grandad when I was about five. Then my cousin had a brain tumour when I was about 16 and I read a eulogy at her funeral. Her death affected me a lot, but cancer has always been in our family.”

The most recent was her mother-in-law’s partner who lost his fight against cancer two years ago.

Keren is no stranger to fundraising for Cancer Research UK, having completed nearly 40 running events for the charity, including numerous Race for Life events and half marathons.

All in all, Keren has raised almost £12,000 over the last three years, but will then set herself a new challenge for 2015 of £4,216.50, which is based on the number of kilometres in a marathon.

She added: “I would like to call on people across Cambridgeshire to take on just one running challenge over the next 12 months, big or small. Cancer Research UK offers a range of events to suit every age and ability.”

People can support her fundraising by visiting Keren’s Just Giving page at:

www.justgiving.com/teams/challenge-causecure