Hello folks, and thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

So here's the thing. I'm running the London Marathon.

To be honest I'd completely forgotten I'd applied. It must have seemed like a frightfully good idea at the time, but fairly soon after the acceptance letter arrived the reality set in of just what a mammoth feat completing a marathon truly is.

I've never run further than 6km before, so the London Marathon is going to be a massive challenge for me. But I have the best motivation.

First, I want to give my daughter something for which she can be proud of her Dad. She's already said she'll be cheering me when I (hopefully) cross the line.

Second, I've decided to run in memory of my Dad and to raise money for St Michael's Hospice in Hereford, who looked after him in his final days. It's an incredible place, but they need £4 million of public funding every year to remain open and maintain the wonderful care, attention and affection that they gave not only to Dad, but to my Mum and all our family.

Please give whatever you can. Even £1, $1, €1 will make a difference. A thousand people giving £1 is £1000. It all adds up. Thanks for your time, thank you for your donation, and I'll see you at the finish!

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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.