My London Marathon in April is all about running a good time but I have also decided to offer fundraising support for families in Millom where I had my first teaching job five years ago, and where I count many ex-colleagues and parents as friends. My friend and former colleague Sharon lost her talented 18-year-old daughter Skye Mitchell in an accident about 18 months ago. Skye had been an active campaigner and fundraiser for local and national causes including an impressive anti-bullying campaign that hit the national press and led to her appearance on national television when she was still just 16.

As well as living with her terrible loss, Sharon continues to raise funds for local young people in Skye's memory. 'A Skye Full of Stars' has awarded many grants to local causes, totalling £4000 so far. These include the Millom community track; young singers taking up their hard-won places in the National Children's Choir of Great Britain; and individuals wishing to follow their talents in education, sport and other fields. As a former primary teacher in Millom, I know first hand the wonderful community spirit of this little town, the ambition and optimism of many of its young people, and the struggles some families have in order to support their children's hopes and dreams. I am very proud to support Sharon's fundraising, in memory of her irreplaceable daughter Skye. I am hoping to run the London Marathon inside my personal best time (previous best 3:34). Whether I achieve this or not is of little consequence to others. However, I have had some element of struggle to get this far, as a chronic back condition 12 months ago meant I had to give up my place at last year's London Marathon. Whether it holds out for training this winter is uncertain, but I do hope to reach the start line this year.

And I can't end this write-up without mentioning the terrible loss of my friend Matt Campbell in last year's London Marathon just three miles from the finish line. Teaching Matt's youngest brother at that time, seeing and trying to help his family cope with their tragedy, supporting him just to reach the end of Year 6, and now watching him survive and thrive into the next stage of his young life, will always stay with me. Knowing Matt's own deep desire to see others achieve success in their dreams and ambitions, and knowing how much he would have admired Skye for her drive, her kindness, her optimism for the future, and her joie-de-vivre, makes this fundraising effort and this year's London Marathon particularly poignant for me. So it is with love to both the Mitchell and Campbell families that I've decided to add a fund-raising page to my marathon training, and donate all funds raised to 'A Skye Full of Stars'.

Ambleside Sports Guides Race

Fell Foot Parkrun

Langdale 10k