Hi and thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Yes, I really am running the marathon. After years of threatening to do it, failing to get in or being injured, the time has finally come. And what better way to justify training in the cold, rain and dark of the worst winter in 30 years than to raise money for a good cause.

I'm aiming to raise over £2,000 for St Christopher's Hospice in South London. St Christopher's is a world leader in care of the dying and those close to them. They provide free of charge specialist care and support to the terminally ill and their families. This is a charity that is close to both Lynne and my heart's as St Christopher's took great care of Lynne's dad when he became ill several years ago and it would be a lovely way top say thank you for all their time, care and help and to hopefully ensure that they can continue to provide the same level of care for other people in the future. To learn more about the wonderful work they do visit their website www.stchristophers.org.uk.

To prove how serious I am about completing this challenge, I've even given up booze for the five weeks before the race (apart from maybe a couple on my birthday!) to be in peak condition for the big day. Those of you who know me well will know that I enjoy the odd pint or two so if my abstinence is going to be rewarded, I need you to put your hand in your pocket and cough up some cash for a very worthwhile cause.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and help me raise as much as possible for a fantastic cause.