In 1997 I lost my mother and decided then that I wanted to get involved in cancer, being that this was the disease that took her. In true Phillip Arnold fashion, I managed just that in 2001 when I was diagnosed with testicular cancer.  Thankfully, I have thus far beaten the disease and can only thank Gordon Rustin and his team at Mount Vernon who have successfully treated me.

Gordon is a lovely man who has gone on a quest to build a cancer research centre to help find cures for the disease. The appeal is raising £1.5m to build the unit and an ongoing £300k per annum to run it. I want to put something back into this and accordingly I am taking to the road again to run the London Marathon in 2009.

One in three people who reads this message will die of cancer or at the very least be affected by it. I cant stress enough how much your support will be appreciated and rest assured, your money is going to an amazing cause.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: CTRT Appeal gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation. So please sponsor me now.

UPDATED NEWS

15/09/08 Okay, training starts. Did four miles and was totally cream crackered. Maybe have a cheeky pint later as a reward.

12/10/08 Took to the road in my first official event and entered the Henley Half Marathon. Ive been to Henley and its a lovely little town. Nobody told me that if you run outside of the town that it has great big hills though !!!!!!!! Im not doing this one again, but thankfully got round alive. 2 hours 12 minutes was my time, so Im happy with that.

01/01/09 Got a bit drunk at a new years eve party, so left the car in Stanmore. Ran on new years day from Iver to Stanmore to pick it up (14 miles). The trip back was a hell of a lot more comfortable than the trip there.

21/01/09  Nine mile training run at Uxbridge Athletics Centre. Used the track as the roads near me were icy. 36 laps does make you a bit dizzy though. Got to be done as doing Wokingham Half Marathon on 8th February.

02/02/09  Oh dear, it's been snowing. Can't train for a bit. Shame

06/02/09  Wokingham half marathon cancelled due to the weather. Bit annoyed as having reviewed the form of the other 5000 or so runners, I had a good feeling that I was going to win this one !!!!!!!!!! Oh well, hopefully the track will be open for a boring load of circuits instead.   

08/02/09  Went out and did a 15 mile run in the freezing cold. The last two miles hurt like hell and for my trouble I have caught a stinky cold. Need some tender loving care today.

22/02/09 Back out for a 15 miler. It's getting easier. Didn't hurt as much this time.

25/02/09 PROPERTY AUCTION DAY. Did a five miler around Regents Park before the sale and got on the rostrum to strutt my stuff. I did remember to change out of my running gear first though and put my suit on.

01/03/09 Up to 17 miles now. Perfect training run to set me up for a massive lunch afterwards. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz very sleepy lazy afternoon

11/03/09 Got up early for a 6 miler to loosen me up. All fit for the Finchley 20 mile race on Sunday. Going to have to run fast though as need to complete the course and get to Stamford Bridge for a 1.30pm kick off. Maybe I'll take Abramovich's phone number with me to ask if he can put kick off back a bit !!!!!!!!

15/03/09 FINCHLEY 20 MILE RACE DAY........................Okay the good news was that after 15 miles I was on target for an incredibly fast time by my standards that if transferred to the London marathon would bring me in around 4hrs 20 mins. The bad news is that 4 miles from the end I experienced a severe tightening pain in my right calf. I had this before in 2007 at this very race, so to say I was severely annoyed would be an understatement. I decided not to risk making it worse and pulled out of the race and am in a lot of pain at this very time. I've spoken to my physio Scott Mitchell and will be seeing him over the next week to ensure that ill be running at the big show in London. To be honest Ill still do it even if my legs drop off. Nobody panic, the sponsorship money is safe and I promise that ill be fit to run. Still at least Chelsea won today and England beat France in the rugby, so not a totally disastrous day.

17/03/09 Scott my physio says it's a torn muscle and was pleased I pulled out of the race and didn't do my normal stubborn routine and carry on. If I had done, then the damage would have been serious. As it happens though, he is sure it will repair and I will be fit in time for the big one !!!!! yayyyyyy 

23/03/09 Updated physio report after seeing Scott today. Healing well but likely to be out of the Reading half marathon this coming Sunday. Oh well, at least I can have a curry on saturday night now !!!

30/03/09 Okay it's all getting better. The leg feels fine, so I need to cram some hard training in over the next couple of weeks. Decided to get the bike out of the shed and after taking the cobwebs off it, I cycled the 14 miles to work today. Piece of cake on the legs, but the saddle was uncomfortable and now I have a bruised bum. Back to running tomorrow I think. LONDON HERE I COME !!!!!!!

03/04/09 It only gets better. Ran the 14 miles to work this morning and no reaction to the bad leg. A little over three weeks to race day and I'm going to celebrate by getting the golf clubs out this weekend.

19/04/09  The training has been going well. Managed 16 miles today although it did hurt. I havent managed to get up to 26 miles due to the bad leg injury that I had, so Ill take my chances on the day. May try a sneak a skateboard in under my running vest for the last 10 miles !!!!!!! Excited ?????????? No.....Petrified...Definitely

23/04/09  The realisation of what lies ahead is now starting to hit me. I have one more six mile run planned for tomorrow to loosen me up and then its just lots of pasta and rest until Sunday. I'm watching the weather forecast and it may be hot, which is the last thing that I need, but nothing will stop me now. I'm going to run in the big show and however scared and apprehensive I feel, it won't stop me.  

24/04/09 So time is homing in now. A five mile run to keep me loose this morning before I went to London Excel today to register and pick up my running number. There is no turning back now and I have no choice other than to be at the starting line early on Sunday morning. I put a message on the Adidas wall at the Expo today stating for certain individuals that I have lost, that I would not let them down. Well, I won't let them down, I won't let my sponsors down and I won't let myself down. Even if i am crying in pain and can hardly stand up, rest assured Phil Arnold will make it up The Mall this sunday and thats a promise.

25/04/09 Good nights sleep, more pasta, kit checked and re-checked. I'm packed, I'm ready and want it badly. Thank you everybody who has supported me and backed me up on this one. I hope the Queen has some beers in the fridge as I fully intend to have one when I bask in the glory of running past her place to pick my medal up. This is it..........this is the moment.......I AM OFF TO LONDON.

26/04/09 FLORA LONDON MARATHON 2009.........The fact that I'm writing this update means that I survived and am fit to tell the tale. I was aiming to beat a time of 5 hours and at 21 miles was on target to do so. It was a very hot day and eventually the legs caved in on me, but I promised myself and others (dead and alive) that I would not give up. I found every last bit of strength to get to The Mall and the feeling of elation as I crossed that finish line in a time of 5 hours 20 minutes was amazing. I don't mind admitting that the tears flowed as I completed my challenge. I finished in position 29,200 overall, so whilst I didn't win the race, I still beat 8,000 other runners. I'm very proud and the aching that I have in my legs really doesn't matter. Thank you so much to everyone who supported me in this mad task and an open thank you to the people of London who literally carry you around that course with their words of encouragement and support. The atmosphere was amazing and makes the whole event a wonderful experience.  In the words of the Adidas slogan "Impossible is Nothing". I arrived, I fought and I conquered.........So, where do I go from here........I can answer that one quite easily.............THE PUB.