It was 7yrs ago when running a marathon in HK in the middle of a monsoon seemed like a wise idea. They say time is a healer and trust me that one took some time! So I'm finally back for more and the opportunity to run for 'Give it your Max' is the reason I've dragged myself out of retirement. So please read the below and support a great cause... thanks

Give It Your Max is a charity set up by Tara and Mike Stotesbury in memory of Max who tragically died in a car crash in October 2004. Give It Your Max provides funding needed to encourage children (aged between 5 and 11) from disadvantaged backgrounds to learn how to play tennis.  This includes financing the time and cost of employing young, qualified tennis coaches whose task is to conduct Tennis Clinics in primary schools where children are introduced to the sport for the first time.  Give It Your Max also provides assistance to those talented children to join local clubs in order to develop their potential whilst aiding other tennis programmes (e.g. after school hours and during school holidays), which will enable children not only to capitalise on their enthusiasm for the game, but also to improve their levels of concentration and self-confidence.  As well as financial support, Give It Your Max provides teachers with much needed guidance to enable tennis coaching programmes to be delivered during PE periods within the schools.

Currently Give It Your Max have centres in Reading, Canterbury and Peckham with an annual contribution being made to the Harris Academy in Merton and 15% of funds to the Dan Maskell Trust. For more information about Give It Your Max please visit http://www.giveityourmax.org/ where there is a great video showing outcomes of the efforts of Give It Your Max.

(Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.)