Hi Everbody and thanks for visiting my page,

Last summer a great friend of mine called Jon Ratcliffe passed away very suddenly and quickly from bowel cancer. It was a great shock to us all as he was fit as a fiddle right up until the day he passed.

As a way of remembering him and to raise money to help raise awareness, provide better treatment and give more support to cancer sufferers I am running the London Marathon. The Bobby Moore fund is a fitting charity as it was through playing football for Leeds Met Uni that Jon and I became close.

Aside from finishing the marathon, there is a competitive side to the race - my father Hugh, ran the race once, aged 33, and completed it in 3hrs 15 mins. So when donating please consider a pledge should I manage to beat his time (I think 3hrs 25mins is a realistic target at the moment). Having completed a 20 mile training run recently I know this is going to be very painful!

I know times are hard but please give generously this really is an excellent, and truly fitting cause.

All the best

Leo 'Long Stride' Thompson