<p>This year I have decided to take on the mammoth task of running the Brighton Marathon to raise money for HIV/Aids .</p> <p>It is just 21 days away and if I'm honest I feel a little daunted by the idea. I need your kind donations to keep me focused on my goal.</p> <p>Being diagnosed with HIV is&nbsp;unfortunately&nbsp;something that affected one of my&nbsp;very close family members&nbsp;10 years ago at the young age of 18. They were living a young healthy&nbsp;teenage life and it was only picked up as a result of medical being carried out for a&nbsp;life insurance policy. So just as you're deciding to be responsible and plan for the future you realise your future may be a short one.</p> <p>The saddest thing about this disease is the stigma attached to it which&nbsp;is the reason&nbsp;she'd prefer I don't menion&nbsp;her or put a beatiful photo of&nbsp;her on here.</p> <p>Thanks to the amazing drugs available today she is living a healthy life but is not unaffected by the emotional trauma of living with a terminal disease.</p> <p>My hopes are to change peoples perception of this disease and believe that it could happen to them or somebody close to them.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;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&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p> <p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>