There I was, sitting around a table minding my own business at the local community center when the discussion got onto fund raising ideas and I suggested applying for a space in the London Marathon. Great idea they all said but we don't have anyone that will run it for us and before my brain connected to my mouth the words were already out. If they agreed to deal with the sponsorship side of it then I would run it.

This will be my 3rd go so I did know what I was getting myself into. The long, boring Sunday morning runs and the cold, wet and dark weekday evening runs. Then I thought, if I'm doing this maybe I can raise some money on the side for a good cause. I thought about doing it for the Ray Jacobs 2015 holiday fund or the Ray Jacobs 2015 treat myself to something I don't need fund but decided on something more appropriate. 

My nephew had cancer when he was 15 and spent months in hospital having chemotherapy and not being allowed home or sometimes being able to leave the hospital to walk to the shops. The care and attention he received was nothing short of spectacular and fortunately he came out the other end cured and is now 25 and flourishing (he's actually running this year as well and so is his sister). 

Hopefully cleverer people than me will be able to find a way to stop this terrible disease and if raising money for one of the wonderful charities that are helping to achieve this will enabling that to happen then I'm prepared to put this old, slightly achy body through the training and punishment of a 26 mile 365 yard run. I'm not setting myself a time to finish (who am I kidding - under 4 hrs 45), my only real target is to beat both my niece and nephew to the finish line. They have youth and energy but I have experience and I fully intend to show them who is the boss and hold bragging rights over them for many years to come.

I haven't got to raise a specific amount of money and I'm sure that you've all had countless emails from other people asking for donations to many good causes but if you are able to donate something (small or large) it would be greatly appreciated and who knows your donation may be that last bit that enables a cure to be found that doesn't involve children going through what my nephew went through.