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*** UPDATE *** I managed to finish the race in a time of 4hrs 32 minutes. It was an amazing experience - very tough but completely elated when I crossed the line. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported and sponsored me along the way, including many people who I've never met or haven't seen for a long time. It's been emotional. Rewind to January 2008 and that was the question that my wife Lisa and I were confronted with.  A matter of days earlier, we had made the agonising decision for Lisa not to undergo any further intensive treatment for her Leukaemia. Instead, she decided to go home and spend quality time with her family and friends who meant so much to her. In the words of her consultant though, she was “looking at months not years”.  We realised that once we had opted to go down this route, we needed to tell our eldest daughter, Ella. Not sure about the best way to do it, we were put in touch with Winston's Wish, a charity who specialise in offering support for bereaved children and their families.  Telling Ella, was I think, just about the hardest part of our journey and always brings a tear to my eye whenever I recall that moment. But in drawing upon the advice of Winston’s Wish, at least we knew we were saying the right things. And to see how our daughters are flourishing 4 years later is in part, testament to that advice.  Lisa died in April 2008 at the age of 34. She had initially made a good response to her treatment and told me that she would run a marathon when fully recovered! Of course at that stage I would have gladly settled for her just to get better.  But the thought of running those 26.2 miles stuck with me, so this is my chance to honour Lisa’s desire to complete the challenge and a chance also to give something back to Winston’s Wish.  And coming as the London Marathon does on April 22nd 2012, it will be 4 years to the day since Lisa's funeral. That day was one of celebration of someone who gave so much joy to so many - I know it will give me a big boost come the day. Well, thank you very much for visiting my fundraising page – if you are able to make a donation, that would be amazing. In doing so, you will have the knowledge that you are helping families like ours cope with such a heartbreaking situation.  Please remember to gift aid your donation if you can – this is worth an extra 28% to the charity at no cost to yourself.  Please note I cannot claim this gift aid if I pay in donations on your behalf.   <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.25pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">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 Winston’s Wish 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.  <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.25pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">So please dig deep and donate now.  <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.25pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Thanks again, <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.25pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Simon

How would you tell your son or daughter that mummy only had 3 months to live?

How would you tell your son or daughter that mummy only had 3 months to live?

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