Those of you who have quietly admired (or possibly stared aghast at) my strapping Cornish physique might raise a quizzical eyebrow at the news that I am running the London Marathon on 24 April 2016.

It is indeed true that a lifetime diet of pasties, scrumpy, cream teas and other tasty Westcountry fare has endowed me with proportions that don’t exactly match the archetype of a lithe racing snake.

Undeterred, I’m embarking on 26-and-a-bit miles of plodding, blister-inducing exercise to raise money for a very good cause – the South West Children’s Heart Circle.

The what? Don’t worry - that was also my reaction when my running buddy and work colleague James ‘Atters’ Attwood first told me about the SWCHC.

But he went on to explain the vital role the charity played in supporting his family when he underwent critical surgery to correct a heart defect at the age of seven.

The fact that Atters has gone on to be infuriatingly good at running is a testament to the importance of charities like SWCHC and why we need to do all we can to keep them funded.

We’re both raising cash for SWCHC by running the London Marathon, so you could choose to sponsor him or me - or even both of us if you’re feeling particularly generous.

Just remember that I will take far longer to hobble around the course than he, and therefore sponsoring me is a much better value-for-money proposition.

Oh, and remember to do tick that Gift Aid box which means more of the cash goes to the place it is really needed instead of into George Osborne’s pocket.

Thank you for your time and support.

Matt

PS: where did I leave my nipple plasters?