Back in October I got a phone call from my good friend Andrew. He was in hospital having tests on a painful back that had taken him off his feet for a number of weeks. I thought he was phoning me to ask if I would call by his house and feed his cat. He wasn't. He called to tell me that they had found the cause of his problem and that it was Stage 4 terminal cancer - 6-9 months was the outlook. A brutal diagnosis.

As it transpired, this was sadly optimistic - Andrew passed away on 19th February, showing superhuman strength and courage in the face of such a hopeless situation. He retained his sense of humour and thoughtfulness for others throughout.

So, this May, myself and 3 of my pals from back in our university days in Edinburgh, where we all first met back in 2004, are heading back to Auld Reekie to complete the half marathon on behalf of Macmillan.

Any donations, big or small, would be greatly appreciated. We hope the money raised will go some way to helping those who find themselves in Andrew's shoes, having been dealt the worst possible hand.