Hi

For those who don’t know, my name is Ian and I am a sports massage therapist and will be starting the Great North Run in October, I may not finish until November but I guarantee I will at least start on time.

Another thing that you should know is that I am not a runner, oh people have seen me sprint from the car into Pizza Hut to catch the end of the all you can eat buffet but until November last year that was it. Now, however all that has changed and I run 3 times a week and can run about 10 miles, my running style is still that of a man having a heart attack, although I must be improving as the number of people offering to call me an ambulance has dwindled away at last.

So what made me run? To explain fully I would like to tell a quick story (and don’t worry it is not the one about where babies come from). As mentioned before I touch people for a living (in a very objective and professional manner of course) and one day I was asked to massage a young man whose legs were tight. I had been told by his mum (the lovely Helen) that he was ill and underweight, I was soon to learn she is a master of understatement.

I met Jonathan, who looked a little gaunt, in his room and after a brief introduction we were left alone. Once his mother had left he confided to me that none of his family knew the full extent of his weight loss as he had kept it from them so as not to upset them too much, he them removed his top and it was like looking at a victim of the holocaust, he was THAT THIN!!

This moment and others since impressed me with this young man's courage – he was only 19 but was trying to shield his family from what must have been terrifying for him. During the following months, years Jonathan has been in more institutions, had more tests and more treatments than anyone should have in a lifetime and has been diagnosed with a collection of brain tumours, he used to collect other things but he wanted something more personal this time!

Throughout all, Jonathan has remained positive and determined, his courage in the face of adversity is inspirational but above all his sense of humour is wicked. Wicked enough in fact for me to get off my lazy butt and run 13 and a bit miles in one go without stopping and this is where you kind people come in.

In order to make this worthwhile I would like people to donate money to the charity Andrea’s Gift as this charity has been supportive of Jonathan through his recent rough times and is the only charity locally that specifically deals with rare types of brain cancer. With more funding for research there is a chance that others with Jonathan’s condition can be diagnosed earlier, making treatment safer and more effective.

So please donate what you can so you can sit and watch the Great North Run happy in the knowledge that the fat bloke having a heart attack across the finishing line has done it for charity!!

Thank you.

Ian Morgan

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Andrea's Gift gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!