*****UPDATE*****

So, I did it. On the 17th April 2011, I ran the London Marathon for Beating Bowel Cancer. On a very hot day, I managed to get round in just under 4 hours and (including everything that has been pledged to me) raise nearly £13,000 in the process.

A huge thank you to everyone who donated so generously to this cause, which means so very much to me.

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In early 1998 at the (tender-ish) age of 33, having been married for less than 3 years and with my first child just born, I was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer. As I am sure you can imagine, this was pretty devastating news, however, I was fortunate that it was caught relatively early. Following surgery, chemotherapy and a long period of recuperation, I made a full recovery, although with long term and permanent side effects. My father was also diagnosed with Bowel Cancer some months after me, as a direct result of a family-wide check following my diagnosis. He has also happily made a full recovery.

Nearly 13 years on, it seems the right time to give something back to the community who helped me through the ordeal and who, perhaps more importantly to me, will help future generations, who find themselves in the same position. That may include my own children who, unfortunately, will have an above average risk of getting Bowel Cancer themselves (although this hopefully will be negated by awareness of a family history and an early checking regime).

As a result, I am running the 2011 London Marathon for Beating Bowel Cancer. This is the first time I have run a Marathon, but not the first time I have faced a big challenge and I hope I can face it the same way as I did in1998.

Please help me raise money for Beating Bowel Cancer. I have set a very challenging target but hope that, with your help and support, I can get there.

If you work for a company or organisation, please please can you enquire about corporate donations or sponsorships and/or donation matching. I will run dressed as your company mascot if I have to!

Thank you so much for your support.

As always, 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.