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Every 3 minutes a child is born with a cleft somewhere in the world.  My son, Ollie, was born with a cleft palate.  He was fortunate to have no damage to his face.  It is not known why clefts happen.  What is known is that they are congenital defects which occur early on in the development of the embryo. 

In the UK, diagnosis of a cleft means excellent medical attention - in Ollie’s case from the exceptional team at the Children’s Hospital in Oxford, and support from fantastic Charities such as The Cleft Lip & Palate Association (CLAPA). 

A child born in the 3^rd World with a cleft or a facial disfigurement has a bleak future.  The kids in the UK undeniably have challenges but they are in fact the lucky ones.  Not only do they get excellent medical support but their parents also have a support network should they need it.  In the 3^rd world the child is stigmatised, the parents bewildered.  Clefts are fixable and there is a huge amount of skill and knowledge available to help.  In the UK it is almost routine.  In the developing world it is not.

The Smile Train raises money to help repair clefts in the 3^rd world.  A typical cleft repair costs £150.

I can’t entirely explain why I have decided, 25 years after the peak of my running career, to run the London Marathon this year.  There are now 3 months to go and I need to extend my longest run to date by 15 miles to manage the distance on the day.  I will do everything I can to be suitably prepared.

Ollie is now six.  He has a fun smile.  Help someone else to have one too.  Please sponsor me and support the Smile Train. I hope to raise £3,900 including Gift Aid - enough to pay for 26 cleft repairs.

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.

UPDATE:  26th Feb - 2 months to go...  17 miles this Sunday...

UPDATE:  28th March - 4 weeks to go.  In the last month a 17 miler, 19 miler, 1/2 marathon race (finished about 3,922th) and 21 miles today.  No more long runs before the big day (well not as long as 17!), just trying to learn to run a little faster.  Time for the diet to kick in too.  Lunchtime beer will not happen in April (very often anyway).  Thanks for all your support.  If anyone wants to join me for a 10 mile run in West London the weekend before the marathon then click on this link to find out more http://www.west4harriers.com/TowpathTen 

UPDATE:  21st April - 4 days to go.  My birthday.  I am taking it easy and have not run since Sunday - The Towpath Ten was completed in under 8 minutes per mile and felt great.   Went sailing this evening, will have a final jog tomorrow night - just 4 miles around the block.  Weather is looking hot and sunny for the race.  I have not trained in this, but it has to be better than being half way through a 17 mile training run at the end of February and realising that it had started to snow.  If you are in London on Sunday then make it to the Sanctuary House Hotel from 2pm for a beer.  It will be well earned.  for the weight watchers out there - I am down to 13.9  Thanks for your support.

UPDATE: 26th April - Monday afterwards.  Feeling great today, although a little stiff.  3hrs 59mins 32secs was the time.  I have posted my diary of the highlights of the day below.  Sorry if I have bored you with it already. I hope you enjoy it!

What an amazing day.  Rain as we assembled, it made me wonder why I was doing it.  But it stopped just in time to have a final wee and get in the start line queue.  We edged forwards for 20 minutes towards the start line and we were off, dodging Star Wars characters, Spiderman, bananas and ice creams.  Slow progress to start with.  I had purchased a new GPS watch but it seemed to be telling me were going fast.  I realised that I had set it up for km rather than miles.  Not going that fast and now I need to get this changed without tripping over the person in front.  Problem solved.  Confirm that we are going below target speed.  Time to speed up which means random zigzag all over the place.  Try not to knock people over – particularly when you are wearing the running vest of a sponsor!  After six miles it really is busy at Cutty Sark – almost walking – and what is that, it’s a Storm Trooper!  After 12 miles we reach Tower Bridge.  Crowds are amazing and they are not going anywhere.  I am pleased that I was christened John as the frequent hail from the crowd that I can hear is “Come on John, You look great!”  I am particularly pleased with my new investment in sunglasses.  I could get used to this.  Into Docklands and I meet a young lady wearing a bottle of beer suit – Hook Norton, not London Pride – and then a chap running for the facial surgery unit at Oxford where Oliver was treated.  I slow for a brief chat, but I am a man on a mission.  Docklands is a blur and we are at Canary Wharf.  This is starting to feel a bit harder.  Surprisingly, Katy and the kids are where I expect them to be.  Oliver is on Grandad’s shoulders but looking in the wrong direction.  I stop and jump up and down in front of them.  Where did that energy come from?  Get going again only 7 miles to go but suddenly this is tough.  Someone told me that 21 miles is halfway.  I remember this at 22 miles.  They are correct.  It is a blur from here on in (a reason why I need to do it again).  I am knackered and am frustrated by my progress.  I really want to do it in under 4 hours which means 9 minute miles, but I know that this is the pace that I have been running so there is nothing in reserve.  I think about the kids who will benefit from the Smile Train which motivates me to keep going.  Each mile is £150 and is one operation.  I should be able to work out how many more steps that is – but that sum is too hard right now.   I can see Big Ben ahead. I know that it less than a mile from there.  I need to finish by five past two and it is nearly five to two.  This can’t be happening to me.  Past Big Ben now, straight down the road to the posh house turn right and then finish.  Lots of cameras.  Try and smile.  I have promised that I will smile all the way round and fear that I may not have been keeping this promise.  There is a sign saying 600 metres to go.  Why go metric on me again right now? Get to the corner, forget to look at Buckingham Palace (another reason why this has to be repeated) and turn into finish running underneath grand red banner.  Sadly this says “365 yards to finish”.  How long does 365 yards take?  How long have I got?  Can I wave to crowd?  Can I raise my arm?  Keep going, cross line, stop watch.  3.59:32.  Smile.  They remove the microchip from my shoe, lady gives me a medal.  I ask her for a hug.  Stumble towards a man who takes my photo.  Get my goody bag.  More water and more lucozade.  Why do the competitors get given their complimentary London Pride before the race rather than after it?  Walk along looking for the lorry with my kit bag.  Can’t stop crying.  Get my kit bag, sit down on the grass.  Need to get to the Pub to meet up with Katy and the rest of the family.  Fortunately long queues to cross the road and I stop crying.

26 miles, £4000 including gift aid, 26 lives will be changed.  And mine.

Thanks for your support.