Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Hello folks, I have decided to test myself big time and run the Derry Marathon this year. I have never run a marathon before, so I'll not be looking to break any records but just feel it would be a brilliant achievement to get it finished. I am hoping that with a lot hard training over the coming months and with the help of my family & friends, I'll be able to get over the line in some way shape or form.

Anybody from the Northwest area will know how much work the Foyle Hospice does for the people in the local community. For those of you who are not familiar with the Hospice, it provides palliative and end of life care for patients suffering from Cancer. Patients with other life-limiting illnesses such as Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson's Disease and COPD are also cared for. Care to patients and their families is free of charge and they depend on the generosity of the local community to raise the £2.2 million that is required annually to maintain their essential services.

From my own personal experience, the Hospice and their nurses did an unbelievable job when my father was diagnosed with Terminal Cancer back in 2007. The comfort and support which they offered my family in such a testing time, made coming to terms with a really difficult situation, that bit easier and of course ensured that my father was cared for in the best possible way. Since then, we have discovered some new technologies in the fight against Cancer and here's hoping that those treatments will become more widely available to everyone, from every background, in the very near future.

The reality is though, that this process will take time and not everyone will be lucky enough to receive these treatments, so the need for the Hospice to continue doing what they do best, is still very important. I feel privileged to be running the Derry Marathon for this great charity and hope that you will help me to make this run a great success, so please dig deep and donate now.

Thanks,

Sean