Hello and THANK YOU for visiting my Just Giving page where I will be attempting to fleece you of as much money as possible in exchange for my agony.

For those of you who weren't around last year and don't know the story, this is how I got to this point. Allow me to paint the scene for you - I'm in a boozer, I'm half cut, I'm the type of girl who drives 100m down the road and someone bets me I won't be able to do the Great North Run. Because saying the word 'bet' to a bookies daughter is like waving a red rag at a bull, I shook on it, flogged myself to death training and it was only when I passed the finish line that my own mother admitted that she didn’t believe I could do it. The best part is that you lovely people helped me raise over £3000 in the process. It hurt like hell but was one of the best days of my life. I've since decided that I quite like running, despite not being very good at it, and am doing the Great North Run 2012 for Macmillan again.

So why Macmillan?

August 12 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of losing a particularly special chap in my life, the legendary and inspirational daddy Whelan who fought a good fight against the Big C but lost. When we knew there was nothing left for the doctors to do, it was Macmillan who helped us care for him, answering not only his questions but ours, and supporting us through our darkest hours.

The work these people do is incredible. Just £17.50 could pay for one more member of a cancer support group to go on a social event with other support group members. £51 could buy a liquidiser for someone, like my dad, who can’t eat solid food as a result of their cancer treatment. £350 could pay for a convalescent break for someone with cancer and their carer. Last year you lovely lot helped raise over £3000 which could keep a Macmillan cancer information and support centre stocked with all the information resources it needs to support people affected by cancer for a year! ONE WHOLE YEAR PEOPLE!

Cancer will effect one in three of us. One in three. That's not good odds. To aid your decision on whether you should sponsor me or not, I have complied a list...

1) Sport does not come naturally to me. Whilst the rest of my class were doing cross country, I was smoking behind the bike sheds.

2) I look ridiculous when I run. Like laughably ridiculous. Imagine the bastard love child of a T-Rex and Bambi.

3) You will be contributing to something worthwhile and helping raise funds that will help families like mine at a time when they need it the most.

So on Sunday 16 September, I will be racing in memory of the big man, my dad, the wonderful Pat Whelan who would have died laughing knowing I'm doing this, and remembering all the wonderful people in my life who are currently fighting or have beaten cancer. Please, please, please, I’m begging you, give generously. It doesn’t matter if it’s just a quid because every penny counts.

And wish me luck…I’m trying to beat my PB so this might sting a little more than expected

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU xxx