I'm running the Gatwick Half Marathon on 12 May to raise money for the Palliative Care Unit at Antrim Hospital, in memory of dad.

Last July we had a lovely family holiday in Donegal (me, mum and dad in the photo) then just a few weeks later we were grieving the loss of our father to a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. It was in his heart and spread rapidly. There was nothing could be done for him except palliative care. The team at Antrim were great and supported dad and the whole family in those brief painful weeks.

Six months on and Dad is still hugely missed. I wanted to do something raise money to support the staff, and patients, of the palliative care unit. Running seemed the obvious choice given my lack of any other discernible abilities!

He never quite saw the point in running, unless it involved a rugby ball, but he was always supportive, if bemused, by my efforts! So this is for you dad, every one of those 13.1 miles will be for you. And maybe a beer at the end too :-)