Updated on Sep 16th 2012 at 6:25 PM from the JustGiving API

Nearly half way towards my target! Thank you everyone! The training is tough but it makes it all worthwhile when you see the target getting nearer!!

Some of you may know my good friend Claire Wilson.  I'm running my next Marathon for Claire's Dad Steve and her Mum Glen.  What Steve and his family have been going through over the past 6 months is every daughter's worst nightmare... please take time to read their story and you will see the reason I've chosen to support their chosen charity for my next Marathon. 

On 5 December 2011 (Glen's birthday) and after just over a week of feeling ill Steve was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. They were on holiday in Spain and he was too ill to fly back to England so he began treatment immediately at Alicante hospital in Spain. He was in hospital for 7 weeks whilst they got him into remission.

In children ALL is curable but in adults (anyone over 16) it is not and the best you can hope for is that it becomes dormant.

It is treated in 3 phases and Steve began the induction phase in Spain then continued it at Bradford Royal Infirmary once they got back. He's had a rough ride with many side effects include severe ones such as going temporarily blind and having fluid on the brain.  Because of this they can no longer continue the consolidation therapy and have started maintenance but to increase his chances they now have a bone marrow transplant lined up for the end of August at St James in Leeds. With a 50% chance of surviving the transplant and living 2 years it is not great but probably better than the alternative chemo treatment.

Just recently Steve & Glen had the opportunity to visit the Penny Brohn Cancer Centre in Bristol which offers a holistic approach to work in conjunction with traditional treatment. The centre is funded by donations and it is free to visit giving anyone with cancer (and their carer) and chance to partake. The Bristol Approach is what they call their plan and by improving your mind, spirit body and emotiions you are able to take charge of your own body again and do things to increase your chances of survival. It would be nice if more people were aware of this facility as it is unique in the UK and probably within Europe.

As my support to them I am running Chester Marathon for the Penny Brohn Cancer Centre.  I hope by the time I run the marathon in October, we will have some good news following the bone marrow transplant and that it will have been a success.

This charity is close to their hearts and if it helps them deal with what they are going through as a family, then I will do all I can to help raise awareness for them. Claire has been a dear friend to me since I was about 10 years old and have always felt like she is a part of our family too and to think of what they are all going through is hard to imagine.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure.  Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never send them on or send unwanted emails.  Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.  It's the most efficient way to donate - I raise more whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. 

Every donation, however small I know will mean a great deal to Claire, Glen, Steve, David & the rest of their friends and family!

Thank you for your support once again x