<p>On May 6th I'm running my first marathon, the North Dorset Village Marathon. &nbsp;I've been training hard, and as it's a real milestone for me&ndash;&ndash;it's 26.2 miles!&ndash;&ndash;I wanted to raise some money for a very worthwhile charity.</p> <p><a href="http://www.sparkleappeal.org/default.htm">The Sparkle Appeal</a> has funded a unique children's centre in South Wales, which provides treatment, assessment, and leisure facilities for over a thousand children with complex and special needs.</p> <p>When my daughter was 6 she donated all her birthday money to the appeal, which then was raising money to build the centre. &nbsp;The money I hope to raise now will go towards its running and continued improvement and expansion.</p> <p>So please, urge me on for every one of those miles by donating what you can. &nbsp;Thanks!</p>