<p>I'm running this year's London Marathon*, and thought it was a good opportunity to raise funds for a cause that's very important to me: Parkinson's research.</p> <p>My dad has had Parkinson's for more than a decade.&nbsp; He's amazing: he doesn't let this debilitating disease stop him leading a full and exciting life.&nbsp; He is helped by regular doses of a mind-boggling cocktail of drugs, but each one becomes less effective over time so it's vital that research continues to produce new and more effective treatments.&nbsp; Of course, Parkinson's is a degenerative condition and no drug has yet been devised to cure it or stop the symptoms getting progressively worse.&nbsp; That's where the Cure Parkinson's Trust (<a href="http://www.cureparkinsons.org.uk/">http://www.cureparkinsons.org.uk/</a>) comes in: they're totally dedicated to supporting research to bring about a cure for this horrible disease.</p> <p>I'll be incredibly grateful for any support you can give.&nbsp; OK, this won't be my first marathon, but I promise it will be a genuine challenge just to complete it: I've only managed three weeks of training since November!&nbsp; I'll be struggling through injury to get ready for and complete the marathon - fundraising for this excellent cause will help motivate me to keep plodding on.</p> <p>So please dig deep - thank you so much for your support.&nbsp;</p> <p><span class="text_exposed_show">*A big thank-you to Cambridge University Hare &amp; Hounds, for my Marathon entry.</span></p> <p>If you're not familiar with JustGiving, please read this message from them: <em>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.</em></p>