Hello friends,

As a lot of you know, my Dad died recently which is really shit. In an attempt to raise some money for two wonderful charities, show some appreciation to the people who worked so hard to help him and I guess find some good in it, I thought I'd have a go at the Bob Graham Round. Will set off on Saturday 3rd September and catastrophe aside HOPEFULLY stumble back into Keswick at some point on Sunday.

Charity 1: Rennie Grove - A charity providing specialist care for adults and children with a life-limiting illness in Bucks and West Herts. At a terrible time the kindness of their people made a huge difference. It's insane that they're a charity with no government funding. I'd rather avoid getting political, but the unfortunate situation in which we find ourselves is that they rely on our donations to provide their essential services.

Charity 2: Neuroendocrine Cancer Research - What he had. It is very rare, which I suppose is a positive, but that does mean that research is underfunded. My dad reckoned in 10 years it will be curable so I would love to try to help that happen. Professor Martyn Caplin, a patron of this charity, was heavily involved in my dad's treatment from diagnosis in October 2016.

The Bob Graham Round - In 1932 a guy called Bob Graham was sat in a pub in Keswick and drunkenly announced he'd run up 42 mountains in a day to celebrate (lol) his 42nd birthday. Much to everyone's surprise, and powered primarily by eggs, he did. No one bothered trying again for a while (it is a pointless if entertaining use of energy to be fair) but it's now become a fantastic, sociable, community focused adventure.

I'm not fit enough for the allotted 24 hours but reckon I am hopefully stubborn enough to manage in one go. It's 2.5ish marathons in distance plus equivalent to going up and, more worryingly, down Everest in height so will be bloody difficult + painful.

Nice video

Link to the route

Link to the club's official page

Know people are inundated with various requests for money, so absolutely no pressure (this is as much about awareness), but any amount you could spare would be HUGELY appreciated, and very well spent. I've experienced the comfort that Rennie Grove brings so would love to support them to do the same for others, and it would be incredible if more research saved more from having to go through it at all.

p.s. If anyone else fancies joining for a section text me! A few have already said they're keen. Tempting offer I know.

p.p.s. JustGiving only lets you pick one charity, hence the cumbersome team page, if you could donate to whichever's lowest that'd be wonderful thank you thank you xxx