Those of you who know me will be aware of the fact that last month (Oct 08) my best friend Alan Philips passed away. He had recently gone through and dealt with a triple heart bypass and we all thought, as did he, that he was going to be OK.

He came to see me  with his family in September (08) four months after his operation and he looked brilliant. We spoke about the future and spoke about future holiday plans.

It was a complete shock that three weeks after his holiday with us in Cornwall he was taken by a massive brain haemorrhage after a routine hospital procedure which was the last part of his treatment.

Alan was a giant of a man and his passing has left a huge hole in my life, he was funny, caring, considerate and charming. I was privilidged to have known him and am deeply honoured that he was my friend.

For those of you who didn't meet him I am truly sad for you because you missed the opportunity to meet a genuine one off. Everybody who met Alan loved him, he could light up a room from a thousand yards, he could make you laugh when you might have been on the verge of tears and he would support and care for you through any trials and tribulations you might be facing.

He loved children, he became a granddad for the first time one year ago, and spoke to me shortly before his death about Childflight and how he had great respect for the work they did with children in need.

It is for this reason that I have set up this fundraising page and wish to raise £10k in Alans memory for this great charity.

As we speak I am dragging my beer belly around a squash court weekly and will start running training shortly so I can participate in the Great Manchester 10k run in May of 2009. Please sponsor me and help me to raise a substantial sum in the name of Alan Philips - a great man and sorely missed.

UPDATE - 8 Jan 2009 - I have successfully entered the Great Manchester 10k Run on May 17th 2009. I will be running with Joe, Alan's son-in-law and our aim is to run 10k to raise 10k for Childflight, Alan's nominated charity.

I have started my training and am currently running 3 miles a day and cycling as well. I can hear Alan chuckling every time I get back home after a run in desparate need of oxygen!

UPDATE - 2 Feb 2009 - The good news is that Craig my mate from the North West has agreed to run with Joe and me which is great. The bad news is that I have done something to my left knee just after completing my first training 10k road run at the end of Jan. Not allowed to run for a week, the Doc says! The wife says I'm trying to do too much too quickly and we know that Nicola is always right!

UPDATE - 16th Feb 2009 - The training is back on track, I've invested in a decent pair of trainers and I've actually lost a bit of weight - result! Trying to do 3 plus miles a day and one 10k a week from here until the 17th May. My left knee is still quite sore but not as bad as it was. I put it down to the fact that I'm not 21 anymore!

Quiet enjoying the running, Looe is very hilly and it hurts sometimes, glad the Manchester 10k is flat, I know the route quite well. I am aiming to complete the run between 45 and 55 minutes? Here's hoping.

Al keeps me going, I think about him a lot and miss him enourmously.......

UPDATE - 21st February 2009 - It is with great and deep regret that I have to announce the passing of Bob Melville on the 13th of February 2009. Bob was Alan's father in law, he was deeply loved and shall be very sadly missed. This tragic event makes this charity run even more poignant, a number of donations have been made in Bob's name and I shall now be running for them both. One donation for £100 was made by Bob's beloved sisters Jean and Audrey as well as one from Wanda for £10. Thank you to you all.

UPDATE - 26th February 2009 - Today we have received offline donations to the value of £60. These donations were gratefully received in the memory of Mrs Marjorie Elsie Fitzjohn. Thank you all very much for these kind donations.

UPDATE - 8th March 2009 - I've joined a running club - The Looe Pioneers and I went running with them today for the first time. I even managed to keep up. Training is going quite well I have done a 10k in 57 minutes. Thats the best time to date. I'd like to get it down to 50 minutes if I can. I will keep you all posted.

UPDATE - 6th April 2009 - Six weeks to go until the big day, eeeekkkk! Think I'll be ready. Trying to run every day now and my legs are killing me. Will post a link to some pictures here soon.

UPDATE - 28th April 2009 - Got my race number and electronic lace tag yesterday, I'm 19687 and start in the blue wave at 10.30 am, in the pub for half eleven then! I've been doing quite a bit of training on the coast path recently. I'm glad city centre Manchester is quite flat - looking forward to it now, can't wait!

UPDATE - 11th May 2009 - 6 days to go until the big day. Really looking forward to the run and seeing Jackie and Claire again, its been a long time. Next update will be the result, how exciting!!

Thanks again to everybody for their fantastic support - I don't really know what else to say - I'm overwhelmed!

Our total so far on and off line is a wonderful £1581. Thank you all very much, Alan would be thrilled and I am deeply humbled.

I do hope some of you will be able to get into city centre Manchester on May 17th to support us!

Final UPDATE - 18th May 2009 Wow thats it, its a done deal. What a brilliant day I've got to do it again it was really good fun. Massive praise to Craig for blitzing the course in 48 minutes! Well done mate! Joe and me finished together in 64 minutes. We have raised £1581 so far with a few more donations to come in and with the gift aid we hope to take it to £1500. Thank you to all of you for your support and generosity, you are all amazing,  my best mate Big Al would be extremely proud of all of us and he is the reason that we did it........... God bless you Al.

Thanks

David