As a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists family, I am delighted to be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in support of Speech and Language UK.

At least  2 million children in the UK are struggling to talk and understand words.  That's 1 in 5 children in schools - 20% of an entire generation.

Speech and Language UK gives children and young people the skills they need so they aren't left behind. They do this by creating tools for schools and nurseries, giving advice and guidance to families and putting pressure on politicians. With your support, we can help children get help when they need it most, and look forward to a better future.

Our ability to learn effective communication skills from a young age has profound implications in later life; it affects our place and sense of comfort in society, it impacts our career and employment prospects, nuances our ability to form meaningful relationships, both personal and professional, and can even impact mental health well into adulthood.

As a Royally Chartered body, CIOL has always maintained one primary aim: to enhance the recognition and promote the value of languages and language skills in the public interest. We work to do so, in part, by encouraging the effective study and practice of languages and communication. There is no better charity for us to support.

On a personal note, I am also running these miles in memory of Marie.

Mother, teacher, friend, master of gentle wit and witticism - put simply, one of the most important and formative people in my life to date, and someone who never shied away from encouraging the development of my language skills.

I even recall once getting a letter I had sent as a child returned, replete with carefully noted and encouraging corrections. In red.

I think she would approve of this cause, and that means a great deal to me.

Thank you, one and all, for your support. x