Firstly, thank you very much for visiting my Charity Page. 

Over the past couple of years my wife Laura and I have seen our families deeply affected by this horrible disease. A member of my family, Adrian Bastick Vitoria, and Laura's family friend, Elaine Craib battled with this awful illness but were heartbreakingly taken. 

Adrian, the brother of my step mother Simonetta, a brilliant film director with a shining future ahead was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an incurable brain tumour, in May 2015. It was only 17 months before he lost his battle with this devastating disease and passed away on November 20, 2016, at the age of 48.

Elaine, a close family friend to my wife Laura, had a terrible battle with brain cancer and passed away in 2016. She left a husband, two sons and a very successful career.

I have only recently learned that Brain Tumours kill more people under the age of 40 than any other cancer, and yet receives just 1% of the UK's cancer research budget. Too many, often young, people are dying of this disease, and the only way to prevent this is to invest more funds in a cure. There is a serious lack of awareness of brain tumours and their devastating effects.

This is why I have decided to support this amazing cause, and will run the London Marathon this year. As my friends and family will attest, I have never been much of a long distance runner. More accustomed to charging into someone on a rugby pitch or sprinting around a squash court, than jogging for hours on end. I have begun training, and can confirm that it is more akin to cruel and unusual torture, than an enjoyable pastime. I have in the past run a half marathon which was very tough, but this is a different type of challenge.

Having said this, there have been some glimmers of enjoyment, and if I can help raise some desperately needed funds for this amazing charity, then it will be the most worthwhile 26.3 miles I have ever struggled over.

Please can I ask that you donate towards this cause with anything you can spare, any support and motivation along the way will be very welcome. 

Thank you very much,

Sam Stonehouse

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.