As you’re probably aware (I talk about it enough!) I’ll be running the marathon on . What you may not be aware of is that I’ll be running as part of a team raising money for a very special cause. Jonny, Bruce, Ben, Laura, Colin, Piers, Alexis and I will be running the marathon for ’s ITU appeal.

We’re running for the ITU appeal to help the department to continue to deliver the highest possible level of medical care to patients, and support to their families, at those times when it is most desperately needed.

My Uncle, Richard Odell, was involved in a serious car accident in 2002. Richard spent 8 weeks in Northampton ITU, where he was given 24 hour care which undoubtedly saved his life.

Following the accident, and as a result of the tremendous support and kindness of Richard’s friends and business associates, £35,000 was raised and donated to ITU. This money was used to equip the department with a state-of-the-art critical care transport trolley, fitted with portable life saving equipment of the type needed to maintain full intensive care support during patient transfer.

Now, in 2010, there is another push to raise funds for the department. Our aim is to raise the £20,000 needed to equip the department with an ultrasound scanner to undertake bedside echo-cardiography. Doctors at are already being trained on the equipment, but without external fundraising there is no hope of the equipment being procured.

Please help us, if you can, to reach our target.

If you have any questions about the appeal, please do not hesitate to ask. And if you would like updates on my training progress – just let me know.