Let’s face it, I have the shape of a gorilla (or the more unkind, a Hobbit); relatively speaking, long back and short legs. Genetic of course, from the male line, Dad, Grandad much the same shape, just got a bit shorter as the generations rolled on. Unfortunately this means I am also prone to lower back issues, also linked to the tendency to put weight on round the middle (aren't we all?).

Having a retina detachment a couple of years ago unfortunately added to the weight as I was told to lie on my side for a number of weeks, in addition to 'no gym' for a while, to avoid the pressure in my eye increasing while the operation to re-attach, healed.

Determined still to lose weight, the best route to accomplishing this is to walk every day, something I started on August 28th. But then I thought... why not use necessity for social good whilst I am also aiming to accomplish personal goals, by raising money for three charities which are important to me.

MSF, Medecin sans Frontiere (Doctors without Borders);

Why? My stepdaughter Erin (my daughter as far as I am concerned), is a Doctor who, when she is not doing her thing with NHS, she does a voluntary period (3-4 months) with MSF in trouble spots around the world.

The work MSF does is purely humanitarian, non-political and voluntary on the part of the doctors and nurses who do the job. Very stressful, makes a huge difference to the people they are helping. MSF can only operate via donations.

If you would like to find out more, Erin gave a Ted-X talk at Glasgow University a few years ago on how to be a Humanitarian. Really worth checking out: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FFPB5qjhHgo

Community First Responders;

If you ever have to call for an Ambulance, there is a good chance that the first people to arrive in a fast car will be a Community First Responder to act as necessary to keep the patient (and relatives, or other people around) calm, and alive until the paramedics arrive in an Ambulance. Being locally based and a voluntary service, again can only function via donations.

My wife Ann is retired from business and is a Community First Responder, after seeing the brilliant work that the First Responders do, I have decided to take the training beginning the beginning of November.

Check out this link to find out more about Vale and Fosseway Responders: https://www.valeresponders.com/

Firefly in Doncaster; https://www.firefly-support.co.uk/

Firefly is about living life to the full and enjoying every second of it. They are a Doncaster-based charity providing support and free transport to local cancer patients to regional treatment hospitals.

The Firefly Express fleet is run by a fantastic team of volunteer drivers, providing support to local people in their time of need. The intent is also to remove the stigma and embarrassment of personal cancer problems in young men and women, giving them the confidence to communicate with friends, family and health professionals.

As our company is TwentyFour IT Services, I thought...why not play on that number. But I thought that 240km was not enough, nor was 480km, so, why not triple it and aim for a total of 720km walked by end October and document my journey along the way as part of my fundraising efforts.

As such, I am shamelessly looking for support, small or large, no matter your currency, £,$ or €.

I am hoping to raise £10,000 to share among these great charities, I will be personally contributing and putting my money where (the remains of) my... feet are, so will TwentyFour, however if you would like to be involved, I have created this Just Giving page, and will provide updates, pictures, and general progress along the way as I work to achieve my goal.

Me and my Trapezoidal feet (Mum’s feet, yet more genetics) will try to maintain an overall average of over 12km per day, I have a fitness app on my phone and will be updating a spreadsheet and blogs with progress.

So far, since August 28th I have already managed to reach 400km.

Thanks in advance,

Mike Smith