Shortly after the 10th October 2015 I received a text from a very close friend. This is a text that I read to myself everyday and the text reads, You've been blessed with a special gift to look after and love. This is a gift that most people will never have the pleasure of witnessing and being part of but is a gift that will amaze and inspire you every day.

This message was received after the birth of my beautiful daughter Jessica and my beautiful son Jack. As any parent with children will vouch for, children are amazingly special gifts however the text was aimed more at my son Jack who was born with Down Syndrome. For those of you who don't know, Down Syndrome is a genetic condition that typically causes some level of learning disability and certain physical characteristics.

After the birth of our children and due to our lack of knowledge around Jack's needs we found a phenomenal local charity called PSDS who provide a wonderful support network for families just like ours who have also been blessed and chosen to be given the gift of bringing up a child with Down Syndrome. PSDS have simply been amazing from day one and have been a constant source of information, support and guidance. The Trustees of this charity and all of the people involved are selfless, caring and incredibly personable meaning that there is always someone to help and share idea's with at any time. Jack's development to date has been simply amazing and I know that with the continued support of PSDS, his development will continue to blossom and grow so that he can realise his full potential.

Since Jack's birth my wife Manda has moved out of her comfort zone and has taken part in some 5K & 10K charity runs which have raised some significant funds already for PSDS. Not one to rest on her laurels she will be tackling the Reigate Half Marathon later this year with a group of friends with the aim again to raise even more funds. I'm sure that 'Team Joggers for Jack' will smash it once more!

Taking Manda's amazing efforts into account I thought its time that I stepped up to the plate and gave something back to PSDS as well.

Anyone those knows me knows that I 'don't do running' and although I have played a fair standard of football in my life and considered myself to be fairly fit, I barely moved out of the centre circle and generally shouted at other people to run instead! That's why I chose the Brighton marathon as for me it will be the ultimate test of endurance and willpower and will certainly move me out of my comfort zone!

If after reading my story you feel that you would like to make a donation to PSDS then I would be eternally grateful to you and will thank you personally the next time that we meet, probably over a beer!

Before I finish, I want to leave you with my adopted mantra which again I say to myself at least once a day. The words were written by Leonard Cohen who was a famous Canadian singer/songwriter. My adopted mantra describes how nothing is perfect, no one is perfect, everything and everyone are imperfect. Everyone and everything needs light to survive and thrive, and it is our very imperfection that allows the light to reach within us, to nourish us, and allow us to go on.

My adopted mantra is simply, 'There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.'

Thank you for taking the time to read this. X