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Never in a million years did I expect to actual get a place, but alas I did. So reluctantly, this fat man is taking part in the 2018 London Marathon. So if I'm going to suffer, you may as well help make all the pain worth it !

I am running for 3 reasons - 

Firstly i was stupid enough to enter the ballot.

Secondly, I was inspired by a number of friends who knowingly or unwittingly inspired me to get off my well padded backside and do some running (thanks a lot Miss CP,  Mr SF, Mr RC, Mr RP & Mr JJ). 

But thirdly and most importantly; because a few years ago I prematurely lost my mum to cancer. 

I want to raise funds for Leckhampton Court. The Sue Ryder Hospice that looked after mum in her time of need. Your donation will go straight to the frontline in the support of those needing the hospice and to the support of family members afterwards. For more information on the incredible support they give please see

http://m.sueryder.org/care-centres/hospices/leckhampton-court-hospice

As I watched mum suffer, without complaining, I was struck by how indiscriminate the illness is and how helpless we remain in so many cases. I want to run the marathon both to honour her extraordinary bravery in the face of the cruellest of illnesses and to support the vital strenght and peace provided by the wonderful staff at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice to patients and families alike. They give so freely to all those affected, nothing is to much trouble for them. Everything they do, they do without asking for anything in return. 

But we can give something back. 

I've never run a marathon before. So 26.2 miles is a frigtening prospect. Training has now begun with lots of evening and early morning runs in strange towns (whilst visiting for work I've already got lost twice!) and then longer runs at weekends. My family are being fantastic and are very forgiving when I fall asleep snoring on the sofa at 8 o'clock.

I invite you to enjoy my hardship - but ask that you support me and Sue Ryder while you do. Please put your hand in your pocket and dig deep !!! 

While the training is tough it is such a fantastic opportunity to raise a lot of money for a great cause, I will be inspired by the incredible courage and dignity shown by my mum right to the end.

So please please dig deep and don't forget to GIFT AID your donation. This fat man is working so hard to make this happen - please make all this effort worth it.

Please donate as little or as much as you can to support this charity... and also to motivate me on those long and lonely runs! I don't think I realised just how tough training to run a marathon would be... or how much it would take over my life. I really appreciate everyone's support and I hope to see as many of your faces as possible on my training runs or actually in London on Marathon Day, April 22nd.