On the 27th April, I'll (please no injuries or bugs...) be running Manchester Marathon for the Samaritans

I'm always really grateful to people who sponsor me for doing something I love and I know many of you will have donated to other causes I've supported over the years.

The Samaritans is a particularly special cause. Over the years, I - and so many of the people I am lucky to call my running buddies - have seen the magic power of running to lift our mood, see us through tough times or rinse out the effects of a tough day.

But sometimes people need somewhere they can turn to for support and advice. The Samaritans provide lots of ways you can get help and advice through their helpline, email or on their website. People contact them with all sorts of concerns and what might be a small issue to you may be huge to someone else. If you're going through something new or have been struggling to cope for some time, either way, they are there for you or friends or colleagues.

The photo shows me in my Samaritans T-shirt taking a quick breather on a training run, with wonky shorts...

Thank you for reading this and for donating if you're able to.