Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Dear oh dear. How did it come to this? A marathon. For those of you who don't know the story, here's how we got to this point. I was drunk. Someone bet me I couldn't do the Great North Run in 2011 and I shook on it. As a bookies daughter, a bet is a bet, despite the fact that I used to be the girl who'd smoke behind the bike sheds when everyone else was doing PE. Anyway I did Greaat North 2011, then I did it again in 2012, and over those two races you lovely lot helped raise over £4000, that's right £4000!! Words can't express how over whelmed I still am over your generosity.

But then the bar is raised, based solely on the question 'When are you going to man up and do a proper run?'. One must be so cocky as to say 'Yeah I'll definately do a marathon, in fact I'll put in for the ballot...', then feign disappointment when you don't get a place. Then you'll have to back up your disappointment by applying for a place with a charity, and act disheartened again when you don't get a place with them either. You'll say it's fate you didn't get a place so it wasn't meant to  Then you'll get a phone call less than 12 weeks away from the big day, it's the nice chap from your charity and you wouldn't believe this but we have a space for you...

Bugger.

So here it is folks, here's the deal. I have less than 12 weeks to get ready for this marathon, as we speak that's now 11 weeks. This is a charity place and I've promised to raise at least £2000 for Macmillan and I need your help to do it.

Why Macmillan? In 2002 we lost our dad Pat Whelan to cancer, and towards the end Macmillan came in to help us care for not only him, but support us too. The work these people do for families like mine is incredible, and your donation could really make a difference. Just £10 could pay for 32 copies of The Cancer Guide. £100 could pay for a Macmillan nurse for four hours. £951 could pay a Macmillan nurse for a week. If we can hit that £2000 mark, then together we could provide almost twice of everything listed above. Think about it.

So on 21st April, I will man up and do the London Marathon, and I'll be running in memory of my lovely dad, the unforgettable Pat Whelan, who would have taken bets on if I'd even make it around in one piece had he still been here today. In exchange for the agony of 26.2miles, the fear of losing a toenail or, God forbid, doing a Paula, I ask, nay, I BEG that you sponsor me, no matter how much it is. Every single penny counts. I know that I harass you all on an annual basis and you weren't expecting the next barrage of fundraising until at least September, but the sooner you sponsor me the sooner I'll go away :)

Thank you in advance if you're donating, and if you're not, just promise to give me a cheer if you see me anytime after mile 13.

From the bottom of my heart. THANK YOU xxx