2012 is my fourth year of running the Great North Run and this year I have decided to run for a different charity.

Diamond Blackfan Anaemia is a very rare blood condition which affects less than 150 people in the UK. The bone marrow of patients with DBA does not produce red blood cells and therefore they rely on blood transfusions.

DBA UK promote research into the condition and offer support for families affected by it. You can read more about the charity on their website http://diamondblackfan.org.uk/

While raising money for DBA UK is important I also want to highlight the importance of blood donation, I have been donating over the past year and will continue to do so while also aiming to get other people to do it too, it's easy, relatively painless and takes half an hour.