I am writing this message a few days before my 52nd birthday on a horrible Sunday afternoon after Storm Eunis and just managed a very windy 20 mile run around East Sussex. I have been threatening to run the Brighton marathon on 10th April and hope to try and raise some vital funds for our local Rotary club to distribute to local dementia groups and mental health charities. Some of you may know that my dear old mum is now 85 has advanced dementia and while she does know who I am the memory doesn't last more than a few seconds – deeply sad. I know I am not the first person to have a loved one that suffers from this very cruel illness but I feel a bit useless and really don't know how to help other than popping in as regularly as I can. My mum is a very happy and cheery soul and doesn't really know what's going on but my poor stepdad Bill Bayliss who is 10 years younger than her has aged considerably and in my opinion he is the one that needs support. He really is a broken man and I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to have to go through what he has. Last week I also had to attend the funeral of one of my old school friends 21 year old son who took his own life due to depression. He is the third youngster of his group to go this way. He had a perfect family, great job, a fantastic car – you wouldn't believe there was a thing wrong with him. A lovely lad with everything ahead of him. These kids are living in a particularly horrible world where their expectations of life are so high and I can only imagine too big a mountain to climb. Heart breaking stuff so running a marathon should be a stroll in the park compared to what others have to go through. I hope to raise £10,000 and I'm going to try and encourage as many people as possible to sponsor me at least £26.20 which is the equivalent to £1 a mile or to put it into perspective is like running from the Brighton Pier to Gatwick Airport. God help my knees.

I would greatly appreciate any
donations, shares & support.

Jaime