I’ve joined #TeamComicRelief! Honestly, I keep asking myself why.. I mean, it's an honour that they asked me. But. But but but. Is this REALLY a good idea..?! There's, er, quite a lot of other stuff going on in my life rn. Full time work, kids, life changes, recovering from an op on my rapidly aging leg, and to top it all off...an incoming new puppy. Here's how my mind works: when my life is this full and unsteady, why NOT add a marathon into the mix. Might as well go peak crazy. And if I am going to run a marathon at the worst possible time, I can't think of a better charity to raise money for.

I am incredibly proud to have worked with the Comic Relief team for a number of years, supporting Red Nose Day alongside scores (nay, hundreds) of brilliant, wily folk at Amazon who go above and beyond to find new ways to sell red noses (pls buy a nose) and other merch to raise millions and millions of pounds for the charity. I've seen close up what the Comic Relief team do and how they do it. They are wonderful, thoughtful folk, hellbent on seeking on the small organisations with big impact and giving them space and support to benefit more people, more deeply. I love the blend of proper lols humour with proper sustained impact on people and communities who haven't been dealt a fair hand. I love it.

So, please help me help them raise even more money this year. Every penny will help me with every step (and boy, are there going to be a lot of steps). To be clear, I am no seasoned marathon runner. I ran one, once, like er eight years ago, through ice and snow and mud and hills—primarily because the medal was awesome and they offered cider and homemade flapjacks en route. Actually 'run' is generous—I plodded. So this whole thing is feeling arduous. I thud, asthmatically. But I am inspired, because Comic Relief is genius.

Comic Relief supports incredible projects and organisations making a difference for people across the UK and around the world. Any donation you give helps provide vital support — from shelter and safety to food, essentials and someone to talk to. Your generosity helps organisations tackling poverty and injustice here in the UK and globally.

For 40 years, Comic Relief has been a place where love, laughter and community meet. Together, supporters, fundraisers and communities have helped families meet basic needs, supported children to have the best start in life, created safe places to call home, kept people out of harm’s way, and championed a fairer world.

Running the London Marathon on behalf of Comic Relief plays a vital role in raising life-changing funds for this work. Every mile ran and every donation made helps ensure that Comic Relief can continue supporting people facing poverty, injustice and crisis across the UK and around the world.

So please, chip in. And—if you can—come cheer me on. I will need every high five (and flapjack) I can get as I lumber along the way.

PS yes that's a photo of the incoming puppy, plus some snaps from my training runs. If Comic Relief's mission doesn't move you, nor my toil - then donate for those literal puppy dog eyes.