On 29th May 2016 I will be running the Edinburgh Marathon to help raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

With no government support Cancer Research UK performs exceptional work in the fight to beat cancer sooner, helping to fund over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses across the UK.

In the summer of 2012 my wife Sally was diagnosed with breast cancer and entered a traumatic 9 month period of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Thanks to the great progress in treatment over the last few decades and the high quality of care provided she has made an excellent recovery.

It would have been easy to count our blessings and put it behind us however the fight against cancer continues for so many people.

In recent years many friends and their loved ones have suffered, and continue to suffer, from this terrible disease. Special thoughts at this time are with our next-door neighbour Jo Hewitt as she continues with her course of chemotherapy.

Fuelled by a combination of peer pressure and mid-life angst I started to run ‘seriously’ in September of 2014. I progressed slowly and steadily from 10K to 10 Mile to Half-Marathon distance and successfully completed my first full Marathon in Windermere in May 2015.

This will be my third Marathon and, cramp permitting, I’ll be hoping finally to break through the elusive 4 hour barrier…Since the course at Edinburgh is basically downhill I may never get a better opportunity…!

Thanks for reading - any donation to this excellent cause would be greatly appreciated,

Chris