What started as a jog around the block to get fit somehow turned into me signing up for an Olympic triathlon at Windsor on the 12 June.  My doggy-paddle was finely tuned to get me to the pool bar, but now I have to up my game and on the big day do a 1.5km swim followed by a 40 km cycle and topped off by a 10k run. 

It’s a really healthy challenge and the extra motivation I need to do this is because it’s for charity, those early morning starts during the winter are more worthwhile when you know your efforts are helping a good cause.

I am actually pledging to 2 charities. The triathlon is organised by Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research so my company Thunderhead is going to donate £1,000 to this very worthy cause.

My Just Giving Charity is St John’s Ambulance. This would not have been my first choice a couple of months ago however I never appreciated until my son, Jack, was the beneficiary of their services what unsung heroes they are in our community.

Not only do they teach people first aid, about 800,000 last year alone, these volunteers provide first aid at public events, patient transport and amazingly they provide back up to local ambulance services during major emergencies too – Community First Responder.

Jack needed an ambulance and his Community First Responder, Sue a “volunteer nurse”, was invaluable when she was sent by the ambulance service and arrived first on the scene within minutes. Her calm and professional manner and the level of care that she gave whilst treating Jack put us all at ease and made all the difference.

I would be very grateful for any donations as they will be there for you and your family in the future should you ever need them, and whilst I won’t be earning a place in the Olympics I will definitely do my best knowing that thanks to you I am helping a couple of very worthy causes along the way.