A few years ago I went for a run.

It didn't seem a sensible idea, but the feeling grew on me. I added some swimming and cycled more, and hey-presto I talked myself into signing up and training for an Ironman. How did that happen?

Time has passed, and August 14th will see me lining up in Copenhagen for an Ironman distance triathlon, racing a 3.86km swim, 180km bike and a 42.2km run, all successively after each other and hopefully finishing it in one piece.

Recently, during these past few months of training, both my Father and a close friend suffered from heart conditions which have put their lives at risk. We frequently take our hearts for granted and not give them as much thought as we should, unless we're puffing and out of breath; so I've decided to raise some money for the British Heart Foundation, which is a very worth cause.

The British Heart Foundation is the nation's heart charity. Their vision is a world where people don't die prematurely from heart disease, and they aim to achieve this through pioneering research, vital prevention activity and ensuring quality care and support.

Therefore, I ask you now to take a few minutes to maybe donate to this worthwhile cause via JustGiving,it's simple fast and 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, and saves me time and cuts costs for the charity.

So, please dig deep and give them some cash via a donation.