Every single penny raised here will be doubled by my employer!
I'm running the London Marathon in 2011, and fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Care. (I'm also insane.)
Macmillan are the helping hands that make life with cancer easier, and I'm running to bring cheer and support to other families affected by difficult times. I'm also doing this in memory of my grandfather, who passed away last year - Macmillan's support helped our entire family, especially those of us who could not be there every day to provide a smile and some comfort.
On behalf of far-flung families everywhere, please help this fantastic charity that's working to fight cancer in so many different ways.
As for me? Why a marathon?
I started running in September 2009, after a lifetime of avoiding it. P.E at school was a nightmare, and as a kid I was content to let my little brother be the athletic one in the family. In 2008, I worked hard to lose 5 stone (70lb), but needed to find a way to keep fit - the flexibility and freedom of running somehow appealed. That, and all the gadgets you can use.
Around the same time I was thinking about my own health, my family went through a far more difficult experience - my grandfather, the strong and successful patriarch, passed away. My granddad was always there for me, supporting me both emotionally and financially - I wouldn't be where I am today without him. He was also a remarkable man, serving in WWII and becoming an extremely respected doctor - listed in Who's Who and appointed to Queen's Physician. It was a huge struggle to think of him suffering and my grandmother, an extremely strong woman, trying to cope with this new and bitterly difficult disease in her life while I was 400 miles away and unable to help.
With family members scattered around the world and the country, we couldn't all be there to support my grandparents - to comfort and look after my grandmother, and to ease my grandfather's pain. Macmillan nurses stepped in where we couldn't, and were a great comfort to the family - and to families all over the UK struggling with cancer.
Deciding to run the London Marathon to support this fantastic organisation was easy, although training will not be. Hopefully all the blisters, pulled muscles, sweat and tears will be worth it!
