Hi. Thanks for visting my page and your support.  I decided to run the Virgin London Marathon after my Dad died in September of last year.  He was 83, a good age, but died suddenly of a heart attack whilst walking round his garden one evening. It was a real shock because he appeared to be so fit and well. We fully expected both Mum and Dad to be around for another few years. However, as dying goes, I can't think of a better way - happy and contented in the place you love to be.

At my Dad's funeral, there was an out-pouring of emotion from so many people he had made a real difference to.  From looking out for elderly neighbours to setting up a local conservation and astronomy group, he had a big social conscience and was a man who made things happen.

For me running the London Marathon is a way of working through my sadness and doing something momentous to mark the life of man who gave so much to me and his community. Action Heart seemed a fitting charity to run for and enables me to make a difference to the people in my community who rely on the services Action Heart offers at its cardiac rehabiltation unit at Russells Hall.

I'd like to say a big thankyou to my friend, Sally Harris, who put me forward to run with Action Heart and for being there with me every 7am on a Sunday morning and Wednesday night in the cold, dark and rain to run the lanes and do our intervals under the guidance of our superb trainer and local Dad, David Morrison.

A big thank you also goes out to Chris Jones and the Stubble Brothers for their kind support in doing a fundraising event on March 29th at the KCA, Kinver and Simon Grigg for his DJ decks and graphic design skills.