Right, so doctor's advice has finally been properly heeded and if you search the attached link (enter Blenheim Triathlon 2010 Sunday - competitor no 5323) http://www.sportcam.net/CompetitorDetail.aspx?ID=2824799+&type=No,5323+&Name you will see me in action in what was a first dip in the waters of Triathlon.

Having proved I know what I am doing there I am now ready to take the full plunge in the London Docklands Olympic distance Triathlon event on August 8 and I would like you to ask you to help me raise some money for an extremely worthy cause.

I know we are all asked regularly for money by charities, sometimes to the point of irritation, but I promise not to do anything else this year. A friend and colleague lost his son to this cruel disease and so I was keen to attend a DebRA fundrasing night recently arranged by a member of my family.

EB is currently an incurable genetic skin condition which causes the skin to blister and shear at the slightest touch.  The condition is always painful, very disabling and in its most severe form babies die within the first two years of their life.

The picture you see is of Isla who is 13 months old.

Isla was carried around on a padded mattress for the first six weeks of her life with almost no direct physical contact. All her parents wanted to do was give her a big hug but were frightened of hurting her. Isla would scream in pain whenever they changed her bandages. At nearly 13 months old, Isla’s feet have never healed and remain constantly bandaged.

DebRA provides an expert team of nurses and social care staff to work directly with families affected by EB, visiting them in their own homes, and by being on 24-hour call should any advice be needed.

The charity also commissions world-leading research into the condition with the aim of finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure. However, because DebRA receives no government funding, DebRA relies on the generosity of the public to carry out its vital work, improving lives and giving hope.

For more information and to view a short video clip showing the reality of living with EB please visit www.debra.org.uk.

Please give generously and thank you for your support.

If you are available to shout at me on the day that would be great. Further details of the event can be found at  http://www.thelondontriathlon.co.uk

Thank you all

The formerly fat but, reassuringly, still entertaining Chris Fraser