A big, big thank you to everyone that has donated to such a worthy cause. I did manage to drag myself around a very hot 26.2 miles. A time of 4:41 was slower than I hoped for, but given the sometimes sporadic training and the conditions on the day I think it was as good as I could manage.

The money you have donated, which with Gift Aid will equate to over £6,500, will make a big difference to the work that SPARKS can do this year. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

***

I first started talking about it more than 10 years ago and in the last 2 years I have bored countless more people with weak statements of intent. Then on September 11th 2006 something happened that convinced me the excuses had to stop.

Four years ago I'd never heard of Neuroblastoma. Before last September I didn't know anyone who had died from it. Now I can tell you a heart-breaking story of how a 5 year old girl, a friend of my 2 young children, spent 4 years of her short life undergoing intensive induction chemotherapy, high dose chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant, fighting one of the most aggressive forms of childhood cancer.

The brave young girl in question was Abbie Shaw. Her parents put together a web-site (http://www.abbieshaw.me.uk/) telling the story of her brave and inspiring fight, how she seemed to have beaten it only to see it return and ultimately see her short life come to an end on September 11th 2006. I'd encourage you to read it, but I have to warn you its an emotional read particularly if you have children of a similar age.

So what is the excuse that this all stopped and why am I upsetting you with this sad story?

For more than 10 years I've been telling anyone that will listen, and some that are bored from hearing it, that I am going to run the London Marathon. Well this year I am!!