Hi everyone!

Cancer has had a profound impact on our lives in recent times. Claire's Dad, Pete, recently passed away at the tender age of 50 following a brave battle against lung cancer, while my own Father, Peter, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006. Cancer has also affected many of our uncles and aunts, granddads and grandmas, and friends and respected colleagues.

Words to describe the suffering that cancer brings, both direct and associated, seem trite and insufficient; it truly is a terrible, evil, and terrifyingly common disease that leaves families and friends devastated and heartbroken, exhausted and confused, numb and yet oh-so-raw.

With this in mind, Claire and I have decided to forego the traditional 'Wedding Gift List' and have instead signed up to a charity challenge in aid of The Institute of Cancer Research. Living up to our much-deserved reputation for mild eccentricity, in October/November 2009 we're planning to set off on an 18 day trek to Everest Base Camp with the intention of raising £6,000 for our chosen cause. Achieving this target will be, for us, the best wedding present we could ever hope for; the trip of our dreams - a once in a lifetime experience - and, most importantly of all, the opportunity to make a contribution, even if it is a relatively modest one, to an institute that seeks to find a cure for the awful disease that has so torn our hearts.

We can't wait to see as many of you as possible at our wedding (lots of smiles, please!) and thank you all for your love and support.

Ashley and Claire xx

THANKS FOR OFFLINE DONATIONS TO: Hamish Milne £50, Audrey & Norman £250, Janet English £100, Mike George £60, Viv Mclean £300, Rod Callow £25, David Papp & Helen £50, Stuart & Sandy Fisher £100, June Fieldman £50, Alec and Ann West £200, Granny Rawles £125, Maisie English £20, Ann and Peter Wilkinson £25, Mike Ponder £100, Lara Bellini £5, Jo Buckland £50, Martin Roscoe £50, Jonathan Wilmott and Robert Tucker £250, Cathy Platt £25, Beryl and Ian Rutherford £20, Chris Heap £20, Mike Hibbard and Katie Edgar £100, John and Joyce English £30, Dave and Carol Ward £25