Six months seems to have flown by in the blink of an eye, for that is how long it was since I knew I had a "once in a lifetime opportunity", a place in the 2010 London Marathon.

The day itself exceeded my wildest expectations.  The sound of the helicopters overhead, the 37,000 runners gathering at Blackheath for the start, the impeccable organisation, it all added to the thrill of just being there.  And then there were the real "heroes", those who were running in full military kit, or absurd fancy dress, or who just seemed to be making it deliberatley difficult for themselves, as if 26.2 miles wasn't difficult enough.

The support of the crowd is often mentioned but until I experienced it I did not realise the uplifting effect it would have - that is my only explanation as to why I ran the course in 3hrs 59 mins, 15 minutes faster than the target that I set myself.

And the other target I had set was raising money for The Kernos Centre in Sudbury.  This is one of the few organisations that sets out to help young people get through the many daunting and challenging situations that modern life can present them with, giving them a real chance to get help if it is needed.

So, the very fact that you are reading this probably means that you are considering sponsoring me, for which I thank you.

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.