Before Damian Mustard departed for pastures new, he very kindly put my name down for next week's Great North Run - a half marathon in Newcastle - with his wife Sarah and a small group of others, for a very worthwhile charity. Josie's Dragonfly Trust was set up by a 16 year old girl named Josie after she was diagnosed with terminal leukemia.

Josie battled with her leukemia for 2 and a half years before she was told that nothing more could be done. She then made it her mission to help the children and teenagers with cancer that she was leaving behind.

Josie passed away in 2007 and her parents have continued with the charity which provides boxes of crafts and activities to all Child and Teenage Cancer Units across the UK and also providing a Cash Gift of £500 to children and young people who are told that their treatment is no longer considered curative. The £500 can be spent on anything they like, giving them back a sense of control when they are totally dependant on hospital and family.

With my training regime not exactly having gone to plan over the last few months, with work and family life getting in the way, I have considered cancelling my place on more than one occasion. But how could I with the battles that these children face every single day.

So, I will give it my best shot - although I am not expecting to finish before the television coverages ends!

They say it's not the winning but the taking part - and I hope some of you will be in a position to help me to raise some valuable funds for this wonderful, small charity.

Many Thanks

Julie