For any of you that have known me for any length of time, you'll know that I am NOT a natural born sporty person. Hence the fact that I am terrified* about what I'm about to say: In less than a year I'll be running THE LONDON MARATHON (dum...dum...duhhhhhh!)

I hope that knowing just how much of an ordeal this will be for me will mean you'll dig especially deep to sponsor me, giving much needed funds to my chosen charity, Shelter. I really wanted to run for them as every day in London I see homeless men and women sleeping rough and feel totally helpless.

'It is our belief that everyone has a right to a decent, safe and affordable home,' say Shelter. I couldn't agree more. Yet every 11 minutes a family in Britain loses their home. Shelter are the leading housing and homelessness charity working to change this through campaigning and free advice and legal services.

My fundraising pledge of £2k is scaring me almost as much as the run itself, so please give what you can. And if you can share my page with friends and family who might be willing to donate the cost of a cuppa to the cause that would be amazing. It all adds up.

In advance, a huge THANK YOU.

*This is a lie, as I'm actually in complete denial that it's happening. But once this page goes live I can't deny it any more. ARGH.

WITH A BIG THANKS...to everyone who has given me an offline donation so far: Dan, Natalia, Fiona (and her brilliant beauty sale!).