Laurie Engel was a smart, funny, charming, sparky, sporty boy - the sort of boy it would be a privilege to know. But I never will get to know Laurie, the son of Hilary and my fellow journalist and former colleague Matthew Engel. This is because he died, aged 13, last September, after a long and heart-wrenching fight against a rare and aggressive cancer.

This brought home to me as never before what a cruel and grotesquely unfair scourge cancer is. Now that the Engels have set up the Laurie Engel Fund to work with Teenage Cancer Trust and the hospital where Laurie was treated, I want to help ensure that they meet their goals. (See www.laurieengelfund.org).

I have therefore signed up to run in this year's Athens Classic Marathon, along the original marathon course (or something approximating to it) on November 5. I don't know what Laurie would have made of a marathon, but his mum tells me that when he was 11, in Washington, he was the fastest runner on his baseball team. I am sure he would feel that the cause was good, And so I would be enormously grateful if you would sponsor me, via this web page, to help make the venture as worthwhile as possible.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Teenage Cancer Trust will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Many thanks for your support.