Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

Due to an injury last year and failure to get through the London Marathon ballot, I couldn't complete the challenge so now I start again with the Manchester Great Run on Sunday 17th May.

I have a long held ambition of running in the City of Manchester 10k in July '09, The Great North Run (13 miles) in September '09 and the Edinburgh Marathon in May 2010 and have secured a place in all of these.

For those who have sponsored me already a great big thankyou, you have helped to get the total to £2090, fantastic, but that is still £1243 short of the target so those who haven't yet donated please log on and help us to get to the target.

So why do such a mad thing when I could sit in my living room and watch it on telly. Well it's all in memory of my Dad who sadly passed away in November 2006 after a short illness. Dad was a railwayman for most of his working life except during the war when he served in India and Burma. Unfortunately neither the effects of the sun were known about nor was sun cream available in the 1940s. Due to his exposure in the intense heat of the jungle and plains my Dad suffered for a long time in later life from melanoma which is a more serious stage of skin cancer.

Dad was a true gent in every sense of the word and the best Dad anyone could wish for.

Why MacMillan - Dad spent the final three weeks of his life in Wythenshawe hospital where he was very well looked after. During this time my family were introduced to Helen Dutton who is one of the MacMillan nurses at the hospital. Helen could not do enough for us and ensured we were fully aware of my Dad's treatment and took the time to explain anything we were unsure of.

Helen was a real support through those difficult weeks and a lady I will never forget; I pledged to myself then I would do something to repay the MacMillan nurses.

Those of you who know me also know I will not break any landspeed records in this attempt!!!! I am in no way, shape or form a runner but it's not the fastest time that's important it's getting to the end and raising loads of money for a charity that is now very close to my heart.

So come on, I will have to dig deep and now you can do the same but without the pain. Please donate, however small it all adds up. Part of the support Helen gave was in the form of information leaflets that answered many of our questions, it costs £3333 to keep a MacMillan cancer information and support centre stocked with all the information resources it needs to support people affected by cancer for a year and support families going through the same emotions as we did.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate: Macmillan Cancer Support will receive your money electronically and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in Gift Aid will be added to your donation at no cost to you.

Please donate generously.

Many thanks for your support.

Mark 

15 July 2008 Update

Manchester - Blackpool cycle ride (13 July 2008)

Threw the Manchester - Blackpool cycle ride in to the mix after being 'volunteered' by a sadistic colleague, thanks Sinead.

Completed the 62 miles in 7 hours, special thanks to Wendy for her inspiration as I don't think I'd have completed without her pledge.

19 May 2008 Update

Great Manchester Run (18 May 2008)

Completed in 1 hour 13 minutes and 30 seconds.

Thanks to all for your tremendous sponsorship, support and encouragement so far; please keep it up as there is still a long way to go