Thanks for all your support last year - I'm running again in 2011!

In 2009 we were rocked by the news that our son James (then 4) had been diagnosed with Leukaemia. In the year that followed I trained to run the Great South Run in an effort to raise £5,000 for one of the main charities working tirelessly to help cure children of this illness. I was truly bowled over that more than 200 friends, colleagues and business associates rose to the challenge and helped me raise more than £7,000!

Now one year on I'm entering for a second time, to once again support this great charity. I suspect the second time will in many ways be harder to train for and tougher to complete!! But for those of you who missed my first fundraising drive, here's a second chance. My son James is now well on the road to recovery, a bubbly 6 year old doing all the things that 6 year old boys do. This is my way of trying to ensure other families are similarly blessed when such a diagnosis is made...

The original text from 2009 follows...

2009 was an awful year for millions of people across the UK. However for our family it'll be remembered not for the financial meltdown and turmoil that engulfed the globe, but because our son James - at the time only 3 - was diagnosed with Leukaemia.

I've been amazed in the months since his diagnosis. Amazed by the great work done by so many charities supporting families struck by cancer. Amazed by the courage and zest for life of my son James. And amazed by the daily messages of support I receive from the hundreds of readers, clients, colleagues, friends and family who've all taken it upon themselves to check in on the Restell family and look out for us all. The words of support you have provided have been priceless. Thank you.

Thank you for all the support you have provided to both myself and to my family

I find myself inspired to do something to help other families battling with Leukaemia - and so having never competed in a race over 400 metres before I'm going to run the 10 mile Great South Run later this year. All proceeds will go to the charity Leukaemia Research, which coincidentally is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It's the work of charities like this that mean we now have good reason to hope James will make a full recovery, rather than having only weeks left with him after his diagnosis - as would have been the situation in previous decades.

If you're in a position to donate something to this very worthy cause I would be most grateful - and I'm aiming for the lofty target of £5k+ of sponsorship in the hope that a number of our clients and business partners will also lend their support.

Please do donate today

I appreciate the run is still some months away, but regardless please dig deep and donate now. Thanks in advance, Tony

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure - they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.