Last year I raised £115 for Cancer Research UK by completing my first half marathon, in just under 2 hours 7 minutes, in Glasgow's Great Scottish Run.

That wasn't a bad effort, both in terms of the fundraising and the running, but I know that I am capable of achieving more this year. I am aiming to raise £250 and complete the race in under 2 hours - this might not be the greatest time in history, but for someone weighing over 16stone who is really only suited to sprinting short distances, I think it'd be a great achievement.

This year I have chosen to fundraise for Epilepsy Research UK [ERUK] in memory of a friend from my home village (Overton, near Morecambe) who sadly passed away just shy of his 29th birthday, following a sleep seizure. If you want to read more about Chris' story, and the fantastic amount raised for ERUK by the Wilson family so far, please copy and paste this link in to your web browser - http://m.thevisitor.co.uk/news/local/overton-family-fundraises-for-epilepsy-awareness-in-memory-of-chris-wilson-28-1-8057156

According to ERUK, "epilepsy is a common condition that affects approximately one in 103 people. It is usually diagnosed in childhood and in people over the age of 65, but it can affect any one.

"The only visible symptom of epilepsy is recurrent seizures, and these are caused by too much electrical activity in groups of neurons in the brain."

Epilepsy Research UK "supports the work of scientists and clinicians throughout the UK, who are investigating all aspects of epilepsy in both adults and children. They are especially looking at what causes epilepsy, who is at risk of developing it, what goes on in the brain during a seizure, and safer drugs and better surgical techniques to treat it."

ERUK's "annual research spending is about £800,000 – raised almost wholly through donations from the public – and [they] fund 4-9 new research projects each year."

In memory of Christopher John Wilson.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.