Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Last October at the annual dinner of the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation , inspired by the occasion and perhaps a little too much red wine, I volunteered to do The Great North Run to raise money for great causes in Middlesbrough and the surrounding area.

Having not really run since school and having just turned 45 it's going to be tough, but in reality it's not when compared to the hardship and daily challenges that hundreds of people and particularly children face in our home town, Middlesbrough. This is about doing something positive, helping out, giving a bit back. Whilst I know my efforts will only make a small difference, the collective efforts of the charity are making a big difference and I hope I might inspire others to do something similar.

The great thing is that this charity "is not" about throwing money at lost causes, it's about helping people to help themselves and results in individuals and groups making a positive contribution to the community we live in. The best thing about local charity is that we know where every penny goes and we see the results.

Please, please, please support the Foundation by sponsoring me!

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.