I ran the first ever London Marathon in 1981. And committed to lace up the trainers to do it all again on 23 April 2023. A challenge for sure but a joy also to be with my daughter Olivia on the run and ( writing this day after the race ) the finish line. As well as supporting two superb causes. With Debra the lead charity and having kindly given us places for the race. What a wonderful day and memory for life . An ok time and crossing the line with Olivia . See media for some photos . 

I am giving £50,000 ( outside my Just Giving page to maximise the financial benefit to them)  and chose an overall financial  target of £81,000 . We all like numbers and  as I ran in 1981( "my first and last"  - almost Barry White there 🎵 )  it seemed a  good target to choose.  And now exceeded . Am so pleased . Thanks so much to those who supported  me and Olivia and our chosen charities .  

And to give a chance to those who might still wish to do so  ( and thank  you if so ) I am intending  to leave the JG page open for an extra month  ( so until May 23 ) to maximise the funds  that will be  received  for these wonderful charities. There is still time and all and any donations will go directly to Debra. I have not created a separate fundraising page for Prostate Cancer UK but will ensure  they get a material , even if not equal , sum when the dust has settled . 

DEBRA is the national charity supporting those directly affected by, and working with, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) – a potentially fatal skin condition that causes constant pain due to unstoppable internal and external blistering. DEBRA provides lifelong care and support to the entire EB community. Together we #FightEB and together we will beat EB. I worked with Peter Allis for many years to provide  support for the families as well as the children ( including one of my godsons) affected by this terrible  condition and  am delighted to  support their 2002/3 initiatives. 

https://www.debra.org.uk/

Prostate Cancer UK's top priority is funding research to stop prostate cancer killing men. Over 1000  new cases of Prostate Cancer are diagnosed each week in the UK ( and over 5000 a week in the USA )  and my father  was sadly one of them and this lead to his death in 2013.  Prostate Cancer UK  is investing millions to find better treatments and better tests that can spot fast-growing cancers early, and could be used in a screening programme to save thousands of lives.

https://prostatecanceruk.org/about-us

https://prostatecanceruk.org/