My friend Russ sadly passed away 2 years ago of a very rare and aggressive form of cancer - Mesothelioma. It is less commonly know as the asbestos cancer - as it is through the ingestion of asbestos that causes it - and often many decades after the original ingestion.

Russ was one of the kindest, genuine and wonderful human beings I have ever met.  To say he was a family man doesn't come close. He lived and breathed his family and indeed his friends and was a wonderful person to be around - never getting bogged down with life's challenges and always with a glass half full attitude...it was my honour to be his friend and I miss him incredibly as all those that knew him do and will continue to do.

As this is such a rare form of cancer, it gets less "air time" than other forms - which makes is even more important that we raise funds for its research and the development of a cure - so please give as little or as much as you can because every penny counts.

So it is in  Russ's memory that I am running the Leeds Half Marathon and walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks on May 8th and 14th respectively...which is ridiculous for someone of my age and fitness!!!!