On October the 24^th I am intending to run the Snowdonia Marathon, not only is this my first marathon, it is also one of the most demanding in the UK.

My inspiration is that for every tough undulating mile, I will be supporting Malaria No More and that every penny that I am able to raise, will go directly towards saving lives and to reduce poverty in many of the most affected and poorest African nations.

Malaria is a solvable crisis and yet early year, nearly one-million people in Africa die and unbelievably, in 2009, a child is still dying every 30 seconds of malaria, most deaths are babies and children under five.

This is three times more deaths caused than by HIV/AIDS; malaria kills more children than any other single disease.

In any one day, a quarter of the workforce is sick and almost a third of all hospital admissions are due to malaria, this places huge strains on the already stretched public health care and reduce a government’s ability to address other critical health, development and social challenges.

For just £5 orUS$7.50, a mosquito bed net can be purchased and transported to protect a mother and child for up to 5 years. Few interventions can have the same immediate impact to save people’s lives and livelihoods as quickly or cheaply.

I fell ill with plasmodium faliciparum, the most deadly strain of malaria following a trip to Nigeria. After a week on a life–support machine, I was extremely lucky to have survived. Please read my article in the Daily Mail (1^st September 09) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1210320/Hangover-No--I-Malaria-How-taking-antimalarial-drugs-cost-man-life.html I can tell you that contracting malaria is terrifying, the pain is excruciating, your organs start to shut down and you and your family are aware that you are dying. It is an awful disease although I was fortunate to have fallen ill on my return to UK and with the availability of first world medicine. However, the pain, suffering, fear and desperation experienced by the children and mothers in those African towns and villages is too dreadful to contemplate.

Please support me on my run and Malaria No More to make a difference. As in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Rwanda, we know that malaria can be successfully addressed, these preventative treatments work and we have the power to save lives and an opportunity to change the world around us.

 Every £5 donated will go directly towards saving a life.