In April 2016 I will be running the Marathon des Sables. Ranked by the Discovery channel as the ‘toughest footrace on earth’, this will involve running roughly 250km across the Sahara Desert over 6 days. That’s the equivalent of 6 back-to-back marathons in one of the hottest and driest places on the planet. The rules require me to be self-sufficient, which means I’ll also carry everything I need to survive except water.

I'm raising money for Macmillan cancer support in memory of my friend, Dave Nelson, who recently lost his battle with the disease. His Macmillan nurse was a truly amazing source of support for him and his family from both a practical and emotional perspective.

Macmillan support millions of people around the UK each year who are embarking on the toughest journey any of us are likely to make.

Dave was a devoted father to James and Lottie, and a loving husband to Joy. He was taken from us far too soon. He always seemed to have a positive outlook on life and I will forever remember him with a cheeky grin on his face. He was funny, caring and an all-round great bloke who I am proud to have known. He will be sorely missed by many.

Dave was also a runner. He started running in 2013 and made impressive progress, completing a number of challenges including 2 half marathons. His next goal was to run a full marathon. Since hearing of his illness in December 2015 his courage has been a huge source of inspiration for me and I'll be dedicating this and future challenges to his memory.

Thank you for your support.