A year ago I wouldn’t have believed that I could run 10k, but on Sunday 25 March I managed it… in 1.03.43.  Thank you all for your words of encouragement and your generous donations to Shelterbox.  Your help kept me running and will help people caught up in the maelstrom that follows a natural disaster.

When you've lost everything in tropical storm, tsunami or earthquake, who can you turn to?  I'd never given it much thought until six months after visiting the Philippines the area I'd been to bore the brunt of a massive typhoon.  Hundreds lost their lives.  For thousands more the fabric of their lives was torn asunder leaving them with nothing.

Help arrived in big green boxes, each containing everything needed: a tent, stove, cooking pots.  A green box giving shelter, dignity and hope.

The boxes are Shelterboxes.  Delivered by volunteers who are deployed to disaster zones at a moment's notice; it’s a simple concept that makes a real difference.

One of those volunteers is my Filipino friend Sonny Ongkiko.  His willingness to be sent to any disaster, anywhere in the world is an inspiration.  It makes me want to do 'something' to help...

Since his training in April 2011, Sonny has helped deliver 4,138 Shelterboxes; providing emergency shelter to 42,000 people.  The least I can do is try to run 10k.

You may know that I enjoy hill walking, I'm usually the last to reach the summit and running...?  That's an entirely different matter.  I haven't run anywhere since I was at school.  The bedraggled straggler in winter cross-country is an image that still haunts me.  So now I need your help.

With your support; at every footfall I’ll know that we are helping a family begin to rebuild their lives.

Wouldn't it be great to get enough money for just one of those green boxes?  Each box costs just £590, that's all it takes.