This challenge, and its a big one, is in loving memory of my best mate, Scotty Corderoy, who desperately wanted to raise money for the amazing team at St Lukes Hospice Plymouth, and for those that benefit from the incredible work they do.

Scotty bravely battled Mantle Cell Lymphoma, showing more courage and determination than I can even begin to comprehend. Sadly in December 2024 he lost that battle, but not without leaving his mark on the world and carving out a place in the hearts of everyone who had the pleasure to meet him.

In November 2024, whilst based in Portland on deployment with the RFA, I received a message from Scott's Wife, Jodie, telling me that he was in a really bad way in Derriford, and it looked like he may well not have long left. I'd seen Scott at every stage of his cancer diagnosis - from pre-diagnosis, to tablets, lumbar punctures, chemotherapy, and even his stem cell transplant - I'd seen him in some pretty bad situations, and pretty bad conditions. However, nothing could prepare me for the Scotty that I found when I raced back from Portland.

To say I have never seen pain and suffering like it would be an understatement. The poor bloke wasn't the Scotty that we all knew and loved (from the outside anyway), he was unrecognisable, and in horrendous pain and discomfort.

I still had another week left of my deployment, so having spent hours by his side, I hugged him, kissed him, promised him I would always be there for Jodie and the kids, and I said my goodbyes to him - the hardest thing id ever had to do.

It was only in February of the same year I had been best man at his hastily arranged wedding and cried at him dancing with his beautiful daughter Tallulah.

Turn the clock forwards a week and I finished my deployment, time for some leave, so I raced home. In the meantime Scott and Jodie had made the heartbreaking decision to withdraw from medication and hospital care, and make the move to inpatient at St Lukes Hospice, Turnchapel.

I didnt even go home, I went straight to the hospice to see Scott. I couldn't believe he had lived for that extra week, and I was going to be lucky enough to see him one last time. But what I found when I got there was 90% of the Scotty we all know and love.

He had only been in St Lukes a few days, but his world had changed. He knew he was still looking death in the face, but now it was on his terms, and with dignity, and he had a fighting chance of achieving his dream of going home again.

What followed was a period of time where he looked better and better whilst still struggling. He had times where he was able to enjoy movies, have the boys around to watch football, and even have a cheeky baileys or wine with his lunch!

The team at St Lukes helped him achieve that, and when the time came to go home, they couldn't have been any more incredible.

I spent almost every day going into St Lukes to see Scott, and when the time came to go home, Scott and Jodie gave me the honour of being able to help. I wheeled Scotty out to the car and then followed him back home. Jodie and I struggled to set up the wheelchair ramp, so I bumped the poor bloke up and over the steps and back into his house.

Within seconds of wheeling him through the door he was in floods of tears and uncontrollably sobbing. Maybe a touch of sadness at the realisation of what it meant, but moreso it was happiness and relief that he had made it home, like he promised everyone he would.....Scotty wins again, like he always does!

Throughout the following days and weeks he enjoyed time out of the house, attended a gym opening, went out for meals, saw Florence perform, and was determined to make whatever time he had left as special as possible. But the best thing of all was the message I had, telling me how happy he was to be lying in bed, but able to hear Jodie and the girls laughing and having fun in the kitchen. That brought him so much comfort and joy, and without a doubt made everything that little bit easier for him.

During the last few weeks Scotty told me he wanted to do the Plymouth Half Marathon to raise money for St Lukes, as a thankyou for all they did for him, and to help others benefit the way he had. This was the same old Cordz, always thinking about anyone but himself. We both laughed, everyone knows he's no runner, and neither am I, so I promised him he would walk it together.

The rest as they say is history. Scotty didnt get to do the Plymouth Half Marathon, and didnt get to raise the money he wanted to raise, and that's where this fundraiser comes from.

Having somehow hobbled my way around our home town Torbay Half Marathon back in September, I now have the honour of running the 2026 London Marathon in aid of St Lukes Hospice Plymouth.

Im doing this for St Lukes, but im also doing it for Scott, in his memory and in his name, so that the amazing people at St Lukes Plymouth can continue changing lives the way they changed his.

Anything you can give, big or small, will genuinely help in an immense way, and when I get out on the streets of London, with Scotty on my back, to know we're out there in aid of St Lukes will be an incredible feeling.

Cordz was the greatest man you could ever wish to meet, those that did were blessed, and those of us who's heart has a little bit of him in it will always be richer for it, so please help me to see out one of the big man's final wishes, and give back to St Lukes for the life changing care and support they continue to give out.