I've come up with another silly challenge, but there's a very serious reason why...

The coronavirus pandemic has hit UK charities hard - funding is plummeting and charities are going bust every day. The charity I run, Tiny Tickers, is no exception - during the first weeks of lockdown our income fell by 90%.

But our cause has not stopped - we are needed more than ever. Babies are still being born with life-threatening heart defects. Families are still receiving that devastating news. The NHS heroes are still working to save them. All in the most difficult of times and conditions. They need us more than ever.

The Save the UK's Charities 2.6 Challenge is a cracking idea aiming to replace thousands of fundraising events. Tiny Tickers is getting involved in a big way and I wanted to do my bit - showing our supporters that I'll get stuck in to a challenge as well.

So, here goes... starting on the morning of Sunday, April 26th, I'm going to try to run 2.6km every hour, for 26 consecutive hours. In old money, that's a total of around 42 miles with a heavy dose of sleep deprivation thrown in. An ultramarathon, with a difference.

The rules:

1. The run will be laps around the outside of my house and garden (2.6km is about 50 laps) so I'll be sticking to the lockdown guidance. And probably getting bored and dizzy.
2. The 2.6km distance must be covered once within each hour - I'm aiming to start at the top of every hour.

I know times are hard. But, if you're able to donate the equivalent of a cup of coffee or a pint, that would be wonderful. One thing I am sure of is that your donations will keep me going.

It's exciting, and more than a bit daunting - especially as I've come up with this with one week's notice and no training other than a bit of regular running. It may be horrendous; it might be beyond me; it will definitely be painful and, honestly, I have no idea how my body and mind are going to cope with the distance, lack of sleep and monotony. Only one way to find out...