I’m excited to be taking part in a 10km run to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), an incredible charity that works tirelessly to fund vital research and support those affected by heart and circulatory diseases. It's not a marathon, it's not even a half-marathon, but for someone like me that has never run for anything in his life, it is a challenge.

Why should you donate?

The British Heart Foundation are a charity close to my heart (all pun's intended) and help fund vital research into heart and circulatory disease - including research I do every day at the University of Edinburgh. The BHF estimate 1 in 12 people worldwide suffer from heart or circulatory disease, and that every 3 minutes someone in the UK will sadly die as a result of these diseases.

Many patients with severe circulatory diseases such as atherosclerosis will need to have a heart bypass surgery. In these surgeries, a vein is taken from a patient's leg and used to bypass blocked arteries in the heart. These surgeries work well in the short-term and help relieve symptoms in patients, but have high failure rates, with 25% of surgeries failing within 18 months - this means further suffering for patients, many of whom will require further surgical intervention.

My research as part of Professor Andy Baker's group is developing gene and RNA therapies that can be delivered to the grafted vein during heart bypass surgeries. We believe these therapies can improve failure rates and allow patients to enjoy longer lives with their families. Research such as this is only possible through donations to the British Heart Foundation, which we are all very grateful for.

I have never done anything physical in my life - those who know me well know I prefer to sit on my arse and watch sports rather than take part. But between working a full-time job, and looking after 2 young children, I will find the time to train and I promise I will challenge myself and push my body as hard as I can and complete this 10km without stopping.

Please consider sponsoring me as I take on this challenge - thank you so much for your support!

Simon