Follow my progress at www.facebook.com/the700milerun

When my wife Debbie was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in February 2010 the Willen Hospice were there to offer advice and support and, in the last days of her life, they cared for her, kept her free from pain and allowed me to stay with her, until she died in my arms.

In memory of my wife, who died on October 13th 2011, I decided to take on a challenge that could be used to raise money in support of the Willen Hospice. The idea for the 700 mile run came about because of our association with a small village in the Swiss Alps, called Champex Lac.  Debbie loved it there , and it has many happy memories.  In Milton Keynes our house is only a short walk from Willen Lake where, on warm summer evenings, we often walked, passing by the Willen Hospice which sits on the northern shoreline.  I decided that it would be a fitting tribute to link these two places that Debbie loved so much by running between them, a distance of over 700 miles.

The run is planned for early in May 2012.  I would like to complete the course in 30 days the equivalent of running a marathon every day.  It’s a daunting challenge, but with support from my friends and family and the opportunity to support the Willen Hospice in Debbie’s name, I am confident that it can be achieved.

From Champex Lac the route will head north to Montreux around the northern shore of the Lake to Lausanne then north over the Jura mountains to Paris and onwards to Calais.  After a short ferry journey to Dover it’ll continue northwards through London to Milton Keynes finishing on the shores of Willen Lake at the Willen Hospice.

For Debbie and I the Willen Hospice stepped in and supported us at the most difficult of times.  The dedicated staff and tranquil setting allowed us to share our last moments together in a comforting and caring environment.  They need and they deserve our support and I hope that you will give generously so that they can continue to provide this much needed service to all those who need it.