I'm hitting the big 4-0 in April 2024 and want to mark the occasion by running a marathon and raising some money for the Accord Hospice at the same time, so a few days after my birthday I'll be running the Manchester Marathon.

The Accord Hospice in Paisley provides palliative and end of life care. They looked after my dad Matthew (strangely his Sunday name was Matt, usually it's the other way round!) during the final weeks of his life in 2022. Knowing he was being well looked after was a huge help during an otherwise difficult period and allowed us to spend time together as a family.

This is my way of saying thank you. You can find out more information about them at www.accordhospice.org.uk

I feel a bit awkward asking for sponsorship as times are hard and running is my hobby and something I do anyway, but I'm sure you'll agree this is a great cause. Anything you can donate will be greatly appreciated by both myself and, more importantly, Accord Hospice.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.