Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I'm running a local marathon in Essex in memory of Af Sawyerr, my inspirational work colleague who as you know died earlier this year of kidney cancer.

Part of Af's care took place at the Royal Marsden Hospital where he was impressed with the research going on there - looking at means of diagnosing the disease earlier through use of biomarkers as well as tailoring individualised treatments to established cancer. As is utterly typical for Af he saw an opportunity to acheive something practical and good out of his horrible situation and tasked his family to raise money for the 'Renal Research Fund'. So far over £7000 has been raised. I would like to make that a round £10000. Actually, I'd rather make it a rounder £12000 but we'll see how it goes!

Some of you will know I ran the London marathon in 2002. I'm 40 next year and as part of my mid-life crisis I would really like to see if I can still do it! This is my opportunity to do something special for Af, and address my male insecurities about getting older at the same time so please please please support me in any way you can. It's a brilliant charity that's doing good work so that one day we won't have to confront this horrendous disease. That has to be worth a few pounds doesn't it?

So please dig deep and donate now. For Af.

Thank you so very much.

Ed