Over a quiet beer last New Year's Eve, I somehow got persuaded to get some exercise this year - more specifically to run the Comrades Marathon in South Africa. For those blissfully unaware of this event it covers a distance of 56 miles through the Drakensburg mountains from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Just to make it all a little more interesting, if you fail to cover the distance within 12 hours, they shut the gates! More information can be found on: http://www.comrades.com

I thought this would be a good opportunity to raise some money for a good cause. The two charities I have chosen both help AIDS victims in Swaziland. This small kingdom, where I spent a chunk of my childhood, has the dubious distinction of having the highest incidence of AIDS in the world together with much of the population living in severe poverty.

The Children of Swaziland support children whose parents have died of AIDS (although they themselves may not be infected) funding school fees, book and clothing. £42 will pay for a child’s school fees for a year. Although based in Wales, all the money donated goes directly to the local partner, Swaziland Positive Living.

Young Heroes has been recommended by friends still in Swaziland for their work in communities that have been ravaged by AIDS.  They aim to help keep children and their families together and bring them the crucial food, clothing and education they need.