Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

The photo of me with the pint was taken after completing my first ever half marathon, the Bupa 2012 Great Birmingham Run. That was a major achievement for me as 9 months previous to that I could barely run for 5 minutes before suffering knee pain. Despite not being able to walk on the day following the half marathon, I have always dreamt of completing a marathon. It's on my bucket list and I'm going to do it!

My decision to run in the 2017 Birmingham International Marathon coincided with Channel 4's "Stand Up To Cancer", and so I decided that I'd like to raise money for Cancer Research UK. 

I have written above that I'm running in the 2017 Birmingham Marathon because it's on my bucket list. That's partly true, but the main reason I want to run is because I want to give something back. I was diagnosed with pre-cancerous cells many years ago and had I not received treatment back then who knows what would have happened. 

I remember one of my friends down the pub back then saying "You never think it's going to happen to you." But it does. And it will happen at some stage to 1 in 2 of those who were down the pub with me back then. If I was to give advice to any men I'd say, "Check yourselves!" If something doesn't look or feel right then go straight to your doctor. There is no room for embarrassment or stubbornness.

The training for the marathon has so far been the toughest thing I have ever done. But I am determined to finish.