Dear All,

I am planning to run the Lydd half Marathon on the 10/03/13. I say planning as some times these events can be called of at short notice due to bad weather. Anyway after seeing the new TV advert for Macmillan Cancer Support. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLpS97XA5VA I have decided to run this event with the intention of raising money for this cause.

If like me you’ve become hardened to these adverts asking for your money, and instead of doing something about it decide to bury your head in the sand then please think again!

Think! If you ever receive the bad news, like the man at the beginning of the advert, it’s not just you that has to deal with the situation it can be just as hard on the people who care for and depend on you. As an individual you may be able to deal with it in your own way and with the support of the people around you, but who supports them? The husbands, wifes, mothers, fathers that feel helpless, and the sons & daughters who fear that they may loose a parent?

As well as the person who has just been given the news that we all dread Macmillan cancer care is also able to offer support & advice to the people around them, and based on that I for one think that any money put their way is a fantastic investment!

Most of us have people around is we can rely on for support if we were receive such news, but who will catch them when they fall?

Back to the running; I know the Lydd Half Marathon does not have the glitz and glam of a full London Marathon (not up to that yet, may be next year) so I guess your wondering why I’ve picked this one. Well for those of you that know me you may also know that I’ve recently joined a running club, and in the last three months have run a couple of half Marathons. My 1st, in November 2012 was the Stevenage Half in a time of under 39 mins, and more recently the Watford half in under 1 hour 35 mins. I have now set my self a challenge of running a half Marathon in under 1 hour and 30 mins, and feel that the Lydd half marathon course gives me the best opportunity to achieve this based on the amount of runners (about 700), and the fact that the course is as flat as a pancake (unlike Watford). If for any reason this race is cancelled I will book another run and make sure that I endure all the pain that you may decide to sponsor me for.

If after reading this you decide you would like to sponsor me I have set up a "just giving" page to make it easier, please follow the link below. 

If on the other hand your thinking what I think your thinking, which is “why would I want to sponsor that miserable tight old git”, well that is also OK but next time you pass some one collecting for this charity (who’s not a miserable git) or see a sign for a Macmillan coffee morning, please, please, please give them your support.

You may be lucky enough not to be one of the 889 people who are told every day they have cancer, but you will be truly blessed if it does not affect someone you love.

Thanking you in anticipation of your support for this worthy cause.

Best wishes

Dean