Dear Friend,

I would like to firstly apologise – since the summer I have been wondering around London dressed in faded leggings, my husband’s over sized running jacket and dirty trainers! There has been good reason for my lack of dress sense and flat hair! I have been training for the London Marathon.

Not a natural to exercise (huge understatement!) I took up walking after giving birth to Tamara – my initial motivation to repair the damage caused during my pregnancy from munching on a few too many Krispy Kream donuts! Walking turned to power walking, power walking turned to jogging and jogging turned to running. At first I hated it but after the few weeks of exercising I soon saw the benefits both physically and mentally and here I am today in training from the London Marathon.

There are 2 reasons why I have decided to run the marathon, firstly to fulfil a huge personal goal but as importantly to raise lots of money for charity.

I have decided to run for Macmillan Cancer Support. Macmillan Cancer Support helps people who are living with cancer. In the , over a million people are living with cancer and one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. As well as taking action today to support people with cancer, Macmillan is shaping the future of cancer care. Their increasing range of services including Macmillan nurses and doctors, cancer care centres, a range of information and even direct financial help for those who need it most, is funded entirely through the generosity of their supporters.

I am running in memory of my father-in-law, Asher Teper. Asher lost his brave battle against cancer of the oesophagus in September 2005, age 57. Asher was a truly wonderful and inspiring person with an incredible zest for life – Asher himself ran the London Marathon several times. His death has been a devastating loss to my family - we miss him every day. Unfortunately, having lost a loved one to cancer I know the realities of this cruel illness. By supporting charities like Macmillan we can really help make a difference. I hope you will consider sponsoring me to run the London Marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support.

You can donate online by credit or debit card  or by cheque (made payable to Macmillan Cancer Relief). Please send cheque to Julia Teper, 43 Links Drive, Elstree, Herts, WD6 3PP .

Asher always believed in trying to achieve the almost impossible. 2 years ago had you said to me that I would be training for a marathon; I’d have said it was almost impossible. When I cross the finish line on 22nd April, I know Asher will be looking down at me with a big smile.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and I will let you know how I get on.

Regards,

Julia