Thanks for sponsoring me for my Ironman Triathlon. I will be swimming 2.4 miles across open water, cycling 112 miles through the Bavarian hills and finishing with a marathon. I have never run a marathon before. I imagine it will be quite miserable so maybe I should start my first one nice and fresh. Oh dear.

I'm doing this for "fun" but while I suffer I hope to also raise some money for a very good cause; The Colorectal Research Fund, to help tackle bowel cancer and other bowel diseases.

My friend Colin spent most of 2009 recieving treatment for bowel cancer, including extensive surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy. This, I'm sure, is not untypical of what many people coping with bowel cancer have to go through. In Colin's case 2009 ended with unexpected complications which lead to 4 weeks in hospital, including 2 weeks in intensive care. Although he is much improved Col hasn't completely recovered and still has to have another operation. Having seen what he has gone through I have decided to fundraise for a small charity that is working really hard to improve treatment and the chances of full recovery for those affected by bowel cancer and other serious colorectal conditions.

The Colorectal Research Fund was set up in 2006 by Prof. Devinder Kumar, the very same surgeon who has operated on Colin and is seeing him through to restored health and, we hope, a full recovery in the not too distant future. If you'd like to read more about their work and see pictures of Colin's medical team at work please visit www.boweldisease.org.uk.

Thank you for your support.