Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My challenge for 2018 is going to be slightly different. I'll be taking on a couple of half marathons, the new London Landmarks Half in March, and the Great North Run in September, along with a number of Action Challenge Treks (up to 100km each) during the summer. I'm doing it all for Breast Cancer Now, and rather than create a page for each event, I'm creating a single page for the lot! 

But there's a twist. As part of my training for all of these great events, I reckon I'll be covering a fair few miles overall. So I've set myself the challenge of walking/running at least 1,500 miles during the calendar year. This will include all the training runs/walks and the events themselves, which will be recorded on my Garmin watch and app, and I'll provide regular updates on my progress.

Why 1,500 miles? Well, it started when I looked at the Lands End to John'o'Groats challenge (known as LEJOG) - unfortunately I can't spare the time to do it just now, but then it occurred to me that I could start by doing the equivalent distance. By road it's 'only' 874 miles, but I looked up a number of people who had walked it using the various trails and hiking paths across the country, and they recorded distances between 1,250 and 1,600 miles, so 1,500 seemed like a fair compromise!!

And why Breast Cancer Now? You may be well aware of my own motivation to be involved with this amazing charity, but if not, let me fill you in briefly. My sister Geraldine is living with secondary breast cancer. Having already undergone extensive (and apparently successful) treatment for breast cancer over a number of years, Geraldine discovered three years ago that the cancer had returned, this time attacking other organs and even her bones.

There is no cure for secondary breast cancer, which is responsible for the vast majority of the 12,000 lives (including a few men) claimed by breast cancer every year, but a large part of Breast Cancer Now's research is focused on understanding how to stop the cancer returning, and developing treatments to prolong the lives of those living with secondary, as well as providing support to those affected by this horrible and indiscriminate disease.

Geraldine's experience, and that of so many other wonderful people I've met through my fundraising activities, has shown me how deeply breast cancer can affect the lives of everyone affected, including family and friends, and her courage, dignity and humour have inspired me to devote all I have to keep raising funds to help Breast Cancer Now stop a disease that takes the lives of so many women. Our mothers, daughters, sisters, wives and friends.

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.