Last year my Godson, Oliver was diagnosed with Leukaemia and has been receiving treatment from Great Ormond Street Hospital ever since. He is now just over six months into a three and a half year treatment programme.

Having seen the excellent service and support that they have given to both him and his parents (not to mention all of the others families), I felt that I should do something small to try and help.

For those that know me, I have spent the last decade sitting behind a desk becoming more and more “chairborne” with my three smashed vertebrae, getting more and more slovenly whilst directing others to trek overseas on our development expeditions. I have therefore set myself the challenge of getting fit again and completing the Marathon des Sables in Easter 2014.

For the uninitiated, this endurance race was described by the Discovery Channel as the toughest footrace on earth!The race is a gruelling multi-stage adventure through a formidable landscape in one of the world’s most inhospitable climates - the Sahara desert. The rules require you to be self-sufficient, to carry with you on your back everything except water that you will need to survive. You are given a place in a tent to sleep at night, but any other equipment and food must be carried.

With runners coming from all over the world, this is a truly international event that has a positive impact on the local environment and in local communities and will involve me running the equivalent of five and a half marathons in 5-6 days, a total distance of 156 miles!

I am paying for the event myself (in more ways than one..), therefore if you do decide to either commit me to a mental home or sponsor me (I don’t mind which!), you can rest assured, knowing that every penny will be going to Great Ormond Street Hospital and their fight against cancer.

Please dig deep and help me in this worthy cause.

For further information on the Marathon des Sables visit www.marathondessables.co.uk