A few weeks ago, I made the crazy and impulsive decision to apply for the London Marathon in support of Macmillan Cancer. At the time, Matthew's dear Grandpa was being cared for by the wonderful Macmillan nurses in his home, as he faced a difficult and painful battle with a cancerous tumour.

The care he received was unfailing to the end - the nurses went way beyond their call of duty. My experience was that Macmillan not only cared for Grandpa, they provided love and support for the whole family, This made it possible for him to remain at home surrounded by his nearest and dearest to the end.

He was a very proud and stubborn man but I know he felt immensely grateful for the care he was given by the nurses who always managed to put a smile back on his face when he felt so low. This is my way of saying thank you to Macmillan for caring for the special man that he was, as well as an opportunity to complete a personal challenge that I have always aspired to.

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.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this - those of you who know me well know that this is an absolutely massive challenge for me, but with your help and support, I'll get there!

This one is for you, Gramps x