This Sunday 10th November I will run the original, authentic, sometimes fatal Athens marathon.

I am running to support Mazí Housing, a grassroots charity that works with young men who are travelling alone in Greece. Mazí runs two apartments in the city, providing a safe place to live for 40 young men every year.

It was at Marathon, at the start of the fifth century BC, that a heavily outnumbered Athenian army won a shock victory against the invading Persian force led by Darius. Herodotus records that the Athenians sent their finest runner, Pheidippides, on the 25 mile journey back to the polis of Athens to break the good news. He arrived, cried "we have won!", then collapsed and died.

This vicotry ensured that Athens would remain independent, self-governing and prosperous for the period to come, a period which would yield the basis of European art, architecture, philosophy, politics, sport, drama, literature and medicine.

It may be too early to say whether cultural gifts of an equivalent significance will follow my own arrival by foot in the city centre of Athens. Possibly they will, possibly they won’t. It's just not something we can know at this moment in time.

What we can be sure of is this: that if you give generously, some people who have done nothing but seek a better life will be able to have it. Mazí housing breaks the cycle of homelessness, helping each resident to leave prison-like camps, precarious basements, and rough-sleeping on the streets, for good.

Please give what you can, and wish me luck!