On 11th September I'll once again be running 13.1 miles for a cause close to my heart. This year I'll be dedicating every stride, step and tear to St John Ambulance, whose skilled volunteers saved the life of my dear friend and running buddy Iain Walker (or Wally to most) when he suffered a cardiac arrest at mile 11 of the Great North Run last year. 

Without the rapid response of the highly trained Community First Responders carrying automated external defibrillators (AED) providing vital first aid until an ambulance could get to Iain it is highly likely he would not still be with us cracking his questionable jokes and singing Rat Pack tunes at any opportunity. 

If you've ever been to an event or concert you'll be aware of St John Ambulance, but few of us really appreciate the life-saving work this charity and army of volunteers carry out- from carrying out first aid to fallen concert goers, providing the ambulance service with emergency support in the event of major disasters to delivering first aid training to parents and children and providing healthcare services to the homeless. Every day people save lives thanks to St John Ambulance, and the money raised will help towards continuing this work. 

It's an ambitious target, but I'm aiming to raise £1000 which would pay for an automated external defibrillator, the same equipment which saved Iain's life after his cardiac arrest last year. Every penny, pound and word of encouragement will be gratefully received! 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.