Well - its time again for the Jane Tomlinson charity 10k run which means attempting to get you to dig deep into your pockets while I dig deep into my ageing physical resources.

You will not be surprised to see that this year I am raising money for the Stroke Association. Valerie's stroke last October meant that she still cannot walk or talk properly. She is now learning to walk on a zimmer frame with less time in the wheelchair and is learning to talk again thanks to a fabulous software package. We are experimenting with many different kinds of therapy and the Stroke Association has been an excellent resource for this. Strokes are the 3rd biggest cause of death and the biggest single cause of disability yet the research is less well funded than cancer and heart disease. Hence my plea this year.

I promise to continue to lift my feet up whilst running or else I may be having to borrow her wheelchair. And even more important now that I don't injure myself as I have also agreed to run the Jane Tomlinson York 10k on July 31.  At this rate I could end up borrowing Valerie's stick!

The photo is of me completing the first Jane Tomlinson 10k in Leeds. Note the cap to keep the rain off the glasses and the sad looking knee bandage! There was no-one there to photograph me hence the official but ripped off image. Doesn't this just tug at your heartstrings?  I hope so as there is still time to donate.