Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Since I lumbered my way around the Ironman course in Wales last year, I have been looking for a new challenge.

On that overcast September day (and rather murky night), after going for a dip in the Atlantic and pedalling around some of the prettier bits of Pembrokeshire, I fear I may not have appreciated all of the joy that can be found in the 26.2 miles of lovingly-laid tarmac, in and around Tenby and its heaving pubs.

The joy of placing one foot in front of the other repeatedly for some hours is, apparently, something to be savoured with a fresh mind and body (perhaps without the comradely spray of tepid lager and the friendly bellowing of so many err.. refreshed… individuals) so it would be remiss of me to leave this particular experience “on the shelf”, as it were.

I was looking for a fun one to do, when Auditory Verbal UK very kindly agreed to organise my entry to the Virgin London Marathon on 21 April 2013.

So I now have the chance to improve my marathon time from a frankly uninspiring 5 and three-quarter hours (it was a long day...) to….4 hours maybe?

And do so participating in the iconic marathon race.

Any help would be deeply appreciated by me and AV UK.

Auditory Verbal UK is a National Charity that teaches deaf children with hearing aids and cochlear implants to listen and speak. After three years of family-based Auditory Verbal therapy, over 80% close the language gap and enter mainstream schools alongside their hearing friends. The charity works directly with around 60 families and reaches out to many more through training programmes for professionals across the UK.

Auditory Verbal UK have helped Alice and Oliver, the children of my friends Claire and Chris Campbell, come to terms with their own challenges, having developed a rare form of deafness called ANSD. 

Please, please, please help me help them.

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.