I ran the London Marathon 12 years ago, but in the intervening years a lot has happened - not least marriage and two little boys! In 1997 I flogged the streets of our capital to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Cancer Research. Twelve years on and I feel the need for a challenge so this time I have chosen New York on November 1st, as I am too impatient to wait until April. I have chosen to run again for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation along with Facing the World which focuses on facial reconstruction surgery for children in poor countries. These two charities are remarkable - one is working tirelessly to find a cure for a disease which affects thousands of children, the other transforms lives of youngsters who otherwise face ridicule and expulsion from their villages.

So forgive me in difficult economic times and there are a thousand different calls on your resources, but I am asking you to donate as much as you can, to help me complete the course and reach my fundraising targets.

THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!

Lots of love, Anna

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.