As a general rule, I never use the words 'fun' and 'run' in the same sentence for obvious reasons. But here I am inviting you to sponsor me for the Dulwich Park Fun Run.

Clearly, it's not going to be fun. I'll probably be doing a waddle rather than a run, however I can guarantee it's in Dulwich Park on 22nd May (do come down as there will be cakes, face painting, masseurs and things that really are fun).

But most importantly it's in aid of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) - one of the UK's most common life-threatening inherited diseases and one that affects five people dear to me or to people I love which is why I shamlessly ask you for money.

Cystic Fibrosis affects over 8,500 people in the UK.

• Over two million people in the UK carry the faulty gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis - around 1 in 25 of the population.
• If two carriers have a child, the baby has a 1 in 4 chance of having Cystic Fibrosis.
• Cystic Fibrosis affects the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, by clogging them with thick sticky mucus. This makes it hard to breathe and digest food.
• Each week, five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis.
• Each week, three young lives are lost to Cystic Fibrosis.
• Around half of the CF population can expect to live over 38 years, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today could expect to live even longer.