I am running the London Marathon to raise money for Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Trust where a team led by Dr Malcolm Coulthard is developing a unique haemodialysis machine that can be used to provide dialysis to newborn and premature babies who have suffered acute kidney failure.

I am doing this to support my friends Sophie and Andrew Bowman whose 12 day old son Adam died last year because he suffered acute kidney failure and could not be effectively dialysed by conventional methods.

The money raised will help to enable a new haemodialysis machine enter into clinical trials which is the last step needed before the machine can be made available to hospitals throughout the UK.

Any money you can donate will be gratefully appreciated and put to good use.