For years I was a patron of Elizabeth's Legacy of Hope, a brilliant little charity that raised money for child-amputees in India and Africa. Against all expectations (most people hate poetry) my marathon raised £4000. I should like to carry on (almost three years into the marathon now) and try to raise at least as much for Legs4Africa. I love the idea that they recycle and re-shape legs to fit people who need them in countries all over Africa.

If you'd like to give people a proper leg-up and improve their lives hugely, please donate a few pounds, then, if you're interested, drop me a line and I'll send you a selection of the poems, some of which - even if you hate poems - may cheer you up.