When I raise money for charity I like to support local causes. This year, I am running the London Marathon and so I am raising money for the London Centre of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Supporting this charity feels appropriate as I find running to be an excellent way of engaging with the natural environment. Perhaps the pennies raised through my efforts will also go to help conserve numbers of Bewick’s swans who also complete their own GPS tracked marathon every year, over the slightly more impressive distance of 3000km.

However, my primary reason for choosing the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust is that one of my best, most loved and influential friends, whom I am still numb from the loss of two years ago, enjoyed spending time in the Barnes Centre. He was a very generous charity giver, supporting a wide range of human as well as environmental causes. As the coroner has still not yet confirmed the cause of his death I felt unable to pick an appropriate medical charity, however, some of his last posts online were of his experiences in the Wetlands Centre and I hope he found some peace and enjoyment in these spaces before his untimely and tragic demise.

If you knew and loved Giles, enjoy spending time outdoors, are concerned about wildlife conservation, or would just like to support me in my challenge, please give generously. No amount of funds can ever replace such a remarkable person but let’s see just how much difference we can make in his memory. Thank you in advance.