UPDATE

Just wanted to let you all know that I completed the Shakespeare Marathon on Sunday in 3hrs 24mins. It turned out to be a very warm day, so the latter stages of the race proved to be somewhat of a challenge.

Thank you so much for your support!

 

Who I'm dedicating the run to . . .

Some years ago I had the honour of meeting someone very special, someone who was full of love and laughter and also full of courage. This person was Anne. Whenever I met Anne she would always be making a joke about something (normally Gerry, or his beloved football team Sunderland FC). Even during Anne's illness, she made sure that life continued on as normal, remaining as positive as always throughout. Anne never put herself first and would always be doing things for others.

Sadly Anne passed away in January 2009, but we know that she's still here with us . . . laughing at the things we do. It is with Anne in mind, as to why I have decided to raise funds for 'the eve appeal' and in the process run another marathon. Unfortunately it's not the London Marathon (I didn't get through the ballot) but it is on the same day and equally as long.

 

Why 'the eve appeal'?

So, why 'the eve appeal'? The eve appeal was set up to save women's lives by funding ground breaking reasearch into gynaecological cancers.

Anne had ovarian cancer which is the most fatal of all gynaecological cancers and has a death rate similar to the survival rate for breast cancer. Each year in the UK 6,600 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and 4,400 women die from the disease. When ovarian cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage, the mortality rates are even more devastating. 

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in women in the UK and the most common cause of gynaecological cancer death. Despite these grim statistics ovarian cancer is neither a well-profiled nor well-funded cause .

 

What I'm doing and when . . .

On 25th April 2010, I will be taking part in the Shakespeare Marathon (all 26.2 miles of it), located in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Please don't think of this as an easy task. Training for a marathon takes many months of preparation and as it's a spring marathon all my heavy training will take place thoughout the coldest winter months where I will be enduring rain, hail, sleet, snow, darkness, a bit more rain and hopefully some shine.

I'll try to keep everyone updated on my progress and may even throw in a few video clips to give you something to laugh at.

 

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou . . . .

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