All,

back in November I met Andy Smith at my Brother's white collar boxing match!  Andy's son, Tom, was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, an illness that affects one in 5,000 babies.
Since birth, Tom has faced a series of operations at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital to help alleviate his condition – the first when he was just 24 hours old!
Surgeons performed a third stage operation a year ago to allow blood to pump through his body more easily.
Despite enduring three gruelling heart operations and requiring a heart transplant when he is 12, the little man has not let it affect his zest for life.

So here I am, attempting to raise as much cash as possible for a truly worthy cause.  Little Hearts Matter is a national charity offering support and information to anyone affected by the devastating diagnosis of a single ventricle heart condition.  There is no minimum amount to raise so all I'm asking is that people dig deep and give generously.  I'd love to raise over a £1000 but let's see.....

My plan is to run 4 events at different distances, and where I have personal bests - to beat them!!  With that in mind, here's the races:

10k (6.21 mile) - my PB is 39min

Half marathon (13.1 mile) - PB 1h:26min - 1st one down!! Great North West Half Marathon 21/02 - 1h:25min!!!!

Kilomathon 14/03 (16.3 mile) - this is the first of this race in the world running Nottingham to Derby so no PB - 2nd one down!! I finished in 1h:49min and 82nd in a foeld of 5,500 runners so well chuffed!!

Blackpool Marathon 11/04 (26.2 mile) - a first for me! 3 down 1 to go and it's fair to say this was the big one!!  No-one can prepare you or describe what it's like to hit "the wall" at 22 mile and still have 4.2 miles of torture left with nothing left in the tank!  I came in 39th position at 3h 10 so over the moon with that....every drop of blood, sweat and tears has been worth it!!

If I get through that, I'll be a happy man.....however, if I raise the cash I'll be over the moon and all the tears, sweat and blisters will have been worth it......

So please dig deep and donate.

I've just checked this page and there are some very generous people out there so a heartfelt thanks to you all who have sponsored me so far.  The Sunderland Echo have also published an article about the fundraiser....here's the link:

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Boy39s-heart-battle-inspires-fundraiser.5953965.jp

cheers, Neil