Every week in the UK at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed cardiac conditions.

With your donation, CRY can reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD) by working with cardiologists and family doctors to establish good practice and appropriate screening facilities to promote and protect the cardiac health of our young.

By supporting CRY you will help save young lives from these potentially fatal cardiac conditions.

I'm running the half marathon in memory of s former RAF colleague called Skippy. Skippy had remustered to the Marines before I joined TCW (Tactical Comms Wing) but sadly died because of an undiagnosed hear condition during training. I Never met Skippy, but he had many friends at TCW, and we did some fundraising for CRY in his memory at the time.

What I didn't know back then was the *I* had an undiagnosed heart condition (Long QT syndrome) which proved unproblematic all the way through all the training I did, thankfully! I found out about this in my 40s, but it's a genetic condition and I've passed the gene onto my daughter, who is now 16. This doesn't stop her enjoying life fully, but she needs daily medication and we always keep an eye on where the nearest defibrillator is. I would love my efforts at the Nottingham half to help this wonderful charity improve screening facilies for these conditions.

Unfortunately I am no longer able to run the Robin Hood Half on the day. I've recently been diagnosed with a brain tumour and am in the middle of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, I *am* going to run this route in my own time, a little later once my initial treatment is over - likely in November. I'll be collecting all those miles at a much slower pace than I'd intended, but I'll do it! I've been wanting to run this Half for years, and while I'm absolutely gutted to miss out this year, I'll enter again next year and hope I'm well enough to do it properly.