Well, last year I won a place in the VLM through the ballot but had to pull out when I developed osteoarthritis in my knee. I have never felt more disappointed, especially as I had already started fundraising and I do indeed owe my supporters some "blood, sweat and tears".

The medical opinion is that I would never run and should buy a bicycle ??! but with a good physio, taping, a knee strap and a bucket of drugs.....I have started training again for what may realistically be my only marathon....and in true "in for a penny" tradition, I am also taking part in the Endure 24 hour race. This will be as part of a team from Bracknell Forest Runners, which, knee withstanding should see me running up to 40 miles over the 24 hour period.

Why put myself through this? I have a very good excuse to go back to doing nothing....but its something I feel I just have to do. Its 25 years since my dad died of acute pancreatitis, a condition I had not heard of, but which picks its victims seemingly at random causing immense suffering to all involved. It was only when I reached, and then passed the age he was when he died that the true implications really hit, the life, graduations, marriages and grandchildren he had missed out on. The saddest thing of all was when I researched to find out that no medical advances had been made in all that time, there is still no treatment whatsoever, if it was today, instead of 25 years ago...the end result would have been the same.

Core are the only charity that funds research into pancreatitis, and so if I have to push myself through all this pain, at least I am doing it for the right cause.

Some people sponsored me this time last year and so I have carried this money forward, but any donations are gratefully received.

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