Hello All !

For those of you who remember, I promised that the 2014 Marathon would be the last long distance run I ever undertook but there is in fact one more left,to my great surprise.When you read this  I hope you will understand.

By way of brief background,following a post rugby career ankle operation to mitigate arthritis,I started to consider some charity running.

I made my debut in the Bath Half Marathon of 2006 with a host of former Rugby Internationals and other supporters on behalf of a charity called Cardiac Risk in the Young ( CRY ). I am now returning to the same City ten years later to round off the decade, and this is my final final effort.Here is a little history to explain why.

In 1993,I witnessed at Esher Rugby the sudden death from a heart attack of my friend Howard English during training,while I was club coach. This was followed unbelievably by the fatal collapse of his 15 year old son Sebastian some ten years later,also on a rugby pitch.The heart condition they suffered from was inherited,unforeseen,undiagnosed.

I subsequently became involved with CRY,a charity set up to provide heart screening for young people ( 10-35) as well as counselling for bereaved families.It also conducts valuable research.

Statistics revealed in 2003 that 8 young people a week were dying of previously undetected heart conditions.It is now established that this numbers at least 12.Many are active and sporty ,heightening the sense of disbelief that they could suddenly fall over and die on the spot while apparently so fit and healthy.Others can simply be sitting in a chair.These tragic deaths are so needless because a simple screening can detect the problem and they can be treated successfully.

I went to the Rugby Football Union to make them aware of the issue and they responded brilliantly by insisting on screening of elite rugby players and spreading the message.Other sports have joined in and so much progress has been made, many thousands of young people screened but its still not enough.Sadly,medical authorities fail to recognise the vital importance of prioritising this age group for cardiac care.

I am among a number of sporting patrons , the most recent one of which is Lee Mears, the Bath,England and British Lions Rugby player. He had to retire because of a heart condition which they mercifully detected before it was too late.We are privileged to be able to advertise the great work the charity does and increase awareness of the need for screening.Every year I attend meetings as a Patron of the Charity and I listen to harrowing stories of tragedy and avoidable death.Inconsolable parents just wished they could had known about CRY and the £35 screening which could have saved their child.

My very first supporter and sponsor of that Bath Half Marathon in 2006 was James Graham, a former work colleague and often a mentor to me over the years. He inspired me with his Irish good sense from far off New Zealand where he emigrated after heart problems. Of recent times though, he was fitter than ever, until I heard the news that he dropped dead at home a few months ago,leaving a wife Rebecca,daughter Jessica and many grieving friends, including me.

In his name ,then,and in his honour I am now back in full training to run the Bath Half, coupled with the memories of Howard and Sebastian who inspired me all those years ago.I am raising funds for CRY as you can imagine. I still have dreams of breaking the two hour mark , but the nearest I got was 2 hrs 7 mins back in 2007. This target will dominate my training although the fused ankle may have the last word - we shall see.

Please forgive the lengthiness of this appeal.However I am continually contacted by people who know of loved ones lost and they also know my connection with this incredible charity.The biggest assistance I can offer is to raise awareness and if we together can save one life it will have been more than worth it. So, the MBT shoes are back on and I am once again pounding the streets.

PLEASE go to the website (www.c-r-y.org.uk ), and when you do I hope that you will come back to my page and sponsor me.For the last time, on the Roman roads of Bath in a true Rugby heartland where I once played and I promise that I will leave it all out there.

The cost of a potentially lifesaving screen is a mere £35, so the mathematics is clear but your help in passing on a message of awareness will also save lives.

Thank you so much,

All the best, 

Hallers x