As many of you know, in May 2011 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was a terrifying moment, and a difficult period thereafter. I was helped through it by my loving family, and by my brilliant surgeon, Mr Declan Cahill at Guy’s Hospital, London who convinced me that he was the man to entrust my life to (well, him and the Da Vinci robot that he manipulates so skillfully in the ultra-modern robotic surgery that is much less invasive than the older method).

 

Now, I want to try to give something back, and do something for fellow-sufferers in the future. So, I am running the 2014 London Marathon for the charity, Prostate Cancer UK; and just to make my life really difficult, my running partner is my sports-crazy, ex-rower, gym-babe daughter, who is 35 years younger than me. We will be running the 26 miles and 385 yards together. It means something very special to me to run this race with Rebecca. She encouraged me to get straight back to running after my surgery, and we have managed two half-marathons together; all we have to do now is put those two halves together, on the same day, and make a whole – easy really!

 

This charity, of course, means something very important to me personally. Indeed, it could not mean more to me. Following my devastating diagnosis I was helped immeasurably by their fantastic website, which offered answers to so many of the things I was, frankly, frightened about. I now want to help them to maintain their superb, professional service, and help fund provision of information, social support, high-quality nursing and specialist support, and new research – all the things that I benefited from myself.

 

I would be very grateful for any donations people would like to make. They will certainly help to keep us going through the 26+ miles...

We each have to raise £2000 for Prostate Cancer UK; those are the terms for them giving us each one of their much sought-after places in the iconic London Marathon. I am going to rely on the cheering crowds, and the money I hope to raise, oh! and the desire to pip Rebecca at the finishing post, to get me staggering over the line.