Hello friends,

I'm not sure I can put off the moment of asking you for money much longer. I, for one, have charitable compassion fatigue so let me try and make this painless and assure you I wont be pestering you with regards to a sporting activity ever again.

I promise this is the ONLY time I will ever run the marathon.

I promise.

I definitely will never do this again.

I dont really know why I'm doing it this time; apart from having been told after the first time I fractured one of my ankles that I'd never run a marathon and that irked me, apart from the fact that Dad managed it when he was 60 training in his baggy jeans, apart from the fact my little sister Laura has run it and she's a delicate fairy, apart from the fact that it's my favourite day of the year to be a Londoner....... Oh, and the fact that I am running for the South West Thames Kidney Fund, an association I have been linked to most of my life. I mean who doesn't think kidneys are important? Most of us have got at least one. I mean one is really all we need... let's hear it for the kidney! Kidneys are way under-rated and very interesting. If you ever have a spare few hours ask my Dad something about a kidney. He does diagrams on old envelopes to illustrate his points and everything.

I've decided to aim big and try and raise £10,000. I know that's crazy money but its for such a good cause (!).

So yes, Dr Bending (my Dad) ran the marathon for the kidney fund when he was 60 years old so the least I can do is try to emulate him only with a few less years under my belt. He took 6 hours 42 minutes and 41 seconds. I am really hoping to beat that but I'm not promising.

You can see from my photos that I have been falling asleep a lot in random places since I started training. I am also even more able than normal to indulge in one of my favourite passtimes: eating. I thought I'd also include a photo of how my feet once looked. Golly, I could have been a contender for a "she has quite nice feet competition".They sadly are not so resplendent now. In fact they're down right minging. I've lost one toe-nail and I fear 2 more are on the way out.

So please, sorry, thank you (hopefully)... your donation...as little or as much as you can spare would delight me no end and help spur me on in the still unimaginable quest to run 26.2 miles on April 13th.

 If you've read my babble thus far you are a a glutton for punishment.

Thank you so much if you can find it in your heart and wallet to part with any of your hard-won pennies,

Best Wishes to you,

Benders, Bendy, Jo-Jo, Jo, Joanna, Jo-Banana, Bendage, Bendoise, Dame JCB, The Dame, Lah, Bendolini (no, I just made that one up- sorry- I got carried away)

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