My nephews Alex and Elliot were born in Jan 2009. They had a difficult start, and spent the first weeks of their lives in the special care baby unit at Exeter and Bristol. It soon became clear that Alex was profoundly deaf. The news initially came as quite a shock to the family.

After seeing all the support Alex and his parents have received from charities like the National Deaf Children's Society, my brother and I have decided to do our bit and have foolishly chosen to take part in the London Marathon and have each pledged to raise £1500.

Overweight, over thirty and with the arctic conditions delaying the start of my training, things don't look great.  I may live to regret this decision!

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.

Thank you in advance for your support.