I am running again in the world's largest half marathon in Newcastle in northern England. On this occassion I am raising funds for charity on behalf of Karen Drescher - my best friend's wife, who was recently diagnosed with leukaemia. 

Such a great girl. A wonderful mum to her 2 young boys. Always cheerful, warm and upbeat. Running the 13 miles from Newcastle to South Shields is my small attempt to make a positive contribution. As Karen and family live in Melbourne, I hope some of you Aussies over there will make every attempt to keep them awake to watch the race!!  

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.

So please dig deep and donate now.