First of all, thank you. Thank you for coming to my page and giving me a couple of minutes of your precious time. I hope by the time you leave, you will be prepared to give me a couple of your hard-earned pounds, too.

I have found, through my own, often-bitter, personal experience that the easiest thing to do, when faced with a challenge, is ignore it. To do something else that is easier, involves less heartache and that can be achieved, overcome or conquered (relatively-speaking) with a click of the fingers. Only, that isn't always the way. Sometimes, the only way around obstacle - if at all - is to go straight over the top of it.

When faced with cancer, there is no magic finger-click that will make it all go away. It is an awful, insidious situation. It can take strong, healthy people and slowly take them apart. There is nowhere to hide.

So - I am signing up to my own physical challenge from which I, too, simply cannot hide. I am taking this on because there are so many out there who can't. By signalling my intent at such an early stage to take on Ironman UK 2014, I will be wholly and personally accountable - to you, to me, to everyone. It is a level of training and preparation that can't be ignored and can't be taken lightly.

I am sure there will be dark times along the way, and plenty of setbacks, tears and tantrums, 'walls' to be hit, PBs to be broken and more than the odd exhausted Sunday afternoon nap on the sofa. But for every aching muscle, every second of believing I can't make it to the top of the hill or every doubt that I will ever reach the finish line, there will be an even stronger focus on achieving the goal. Because I can.

I will also be taking on a number of other 'smaller' challenges along the way, both to prepare me mentally and physically for Ironman, but also to help give you guys a bit more back for your money...

So please, if you have a few pounds, shillings or pence, send them my way. I am doing the easy bit. Thank you.

If you have a few minutes, you can also take a look at the online presentation I have put together which gives a quick whizz-through summary of the what, where, when, why and how.