The quick option - click donate above and to the right! Or not quite as quick click Donate via Friends of the Holy Land and enter "Longe Marathon" so that the funds go to the right place!

The Longe option...read on!

I''m running the Palestinian Marathon in Bethlehem on Friday 23 March....really? Have I really succumbed to middle age neurosis and feel I have to do a marathon? EasyJet tells me I've booked a flight, I have emails confirming I'm booked in, my legs hurt, a lot, so I reckon it's true.

So, I ran just shy of a half marathon in snow showers around Bala lake the other day, 16 miles in deeper snow a bit more recently.... But its going to be hot and hillier in Bethlehem so my sketchy training plan is also causing colly wobbles.

Enough about me. The reason I'm doing this is because I know that by hook or crook, bar a collapse, I can cover the distance, so I want to do something to support my brother who as many of you know is based in Jerusalem and has amongst other things been supporting the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza enabling it to carry out vital cancer treatment. And, while I might deliberate about supporting a faith based body, the reality is that the hospital's Anglican status makes it one of the few grass roots organizations which can receive supplies through Israel's embargo, and thus gets my support. It's a special case and it's a vital lifeline for the beleaguered citizens of Gaza, who are trapped and hemmed in in this tragic, neglected and poverty stricken corner of the world.

So follow me as I attempt to run a marathon where it'll be far too hot and hilly. And please donate generously to this great cause.

So what are you waiting for? Either click donate above and to the right or click Donate via Friends of the Holy Land and enter "Longe Marathon" so that the funds go to the right place