OK, I know I said I was never going to do the charity running thing again. I run for fun and I don’t think it is fair to ask others to pay for my pastime.

Well… sorry!

My brother John died from a blood cancer called Myeloma - also known as Multiple Myeloma – on 28 April. He left his wife, Kris, and his two beautiful daughters, Charley (6) and Tilly (4).

Myeloma is relatively little known, representing 15% of all blood cancers. It is ultimately terminal, although some patients can survive for five years or more. Sadly, John caught the disease at a young age (47) and despite being very healthy and fit before diagnosis he only just made it past his 50 birthday.

I was due to run in the London marathon (without the charity thing!) this April before the above event put my running career on hold. Coincidentally My cousin Rob and his wife Vicki had entered a team Iron Man triathlon in Nottingham on 1 July. Rob will do the swim of 2.4 miles, Vicki is then cycling 112 miles and I have been invited to join the team and finish with a marathon run of 26.2 miles. John was a superb triathlete in his day and this seems like an appropriate way both to honour his memory and to raise some money for a very worthy cause, Myeloma UK.  I hope you are able to offer a small donation in these difficult times and to help find a cure for this dreadful disease.

 Many thanks and best wishes