Many of my good friends and relations will know that I had the shock last year of being diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. The point at which the doctors start to worry with a PSA Test is above about 4; My result was 800! The GPs seem to have had a policy of discouraging patients from having the test. As you may understand, I feel very strongly that the PSA test should be routine, particularly as it is not unusual for the patient to be suffering from the disease but have no symptoms (as in my case) If I had been diagnosed much earlier, treatment would have stood a much better chance of success

Thanks to the excellent care I have had from the NHS I still have no symptoms and am feeling pretty good. I went, for a second opinion to Professor Roger Kirby at The Prostate Centre in London, one of the foremost experts in the field. He is the President of Prostate UK and introduced me to the charity. I would now like to make an effort to raise some money to help the Charity with the excellent work it does to raise awareness of the disease, to research into the causes of, and treatments for prostate cancer, and to provide support and information to anyone concerned.

One piece of advice I received from the team treating me at Eastbourne DGH was that I should take plenty of weight bearing exercise---which was good news to me as I have always loved that kind of thing. As a result I have kept up my walking and jogging and done all kinds of strange sports. I have finished the Beachy Head Marathon (formerly called the Seven Sisters Marathon) 25 times. Many friends and relations have accompanied me over the years over the South Downs in all kinds of weathers.

This year I want to invite you to help me raise a good sum for Prostate UK , either by sponsoring me or, better still by joining David Mills and me and our families in walking (with a very little jogging down hill if you feel like it) all or part of the course and obtaining your own sponsorship.

So on Saturday 24 October at 9am,  why not get out of that armchair, come out of retirement and join the group and do as much of the Marathon as you are capable of. If you can't do that please support me by sponsoring me through Just Giving.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.