Firstly - thank you for very much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

For the first time ever I am running the London Marathon!! (and I cannot wait!).

Whilst I do run regulary the thought of another full marathon training schedule does fill me with fear - 5 runs a week for the next 16 weeks, totalling in excess of 500 training miles run prior to the big day is not an easy ask.. Marathons are not easy!

However the upside of this is that what better charity to run this for then for the Charity that helps supports this wonderful London city.

I hope that by running the London marathon and with all of your help, we can all support the city that we work, live and visit regularly and ultimately we love this city.

As one of the wealthiest cities in the world thuogh, it's hard to believe that London also has the highest rates of poverty and inequality of any English region - this is our capital city and we need to be proud to be part of it and not ashamed or brush over these real issues.

"If you live in London it is very easy just to see the good bits. Friends' houses, the parks, the journey to work, the shops, the beautiful buildings, the river - in other words places where everyone is successful and in control of their lives. But by spending some time with The London Community Foundation brought home to me that, if only you look sideways, you can see so many parts of London where people need serious help or support for a variety of reasons." 

As part of the 'The Dispossessed Fund' which was launched in July 2010 after a "call to arms" from Prince William, and following a harrowing investigation into poverty and communal pauper graves that lead to an unprecedented response. Generous donations from both big businesses and the general public have been match-funded by the Government, and the Office for Civil Society, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund have provided major additional financial support. So far £4 million has been given out in 636 small grants helping more than 100,000 vulnerable people across the capital.

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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate what you can.

And finally – Thank you very much for all of your support.