We go again.

In April 2018 I will be running the London Marathon for the second time. I clocked in at 5:15:45 the first time round and, while I was chuffed to bits to make it to the finish line in one piece, I've never been very happy with my time so hopefully I should be able to put that right.

However, this isn't about me.

In May 2016, whilst completing the infinitely more impressive Tough Mudder event, my wife Lizzie took a tumble and hurt her back. She got up and finished the damn thing. Then she ran a half marathon. A few months later she was getting dressed when something went in her back and left her bent double and in agony for 3 days. Eventually, after being poked, prodded, folded in half and scanned with all kinds of scary pieces of equipment, we discovered that she had completely shattered one of her vertebrae and fractured another. Almost a full year after the injury occurred she underwent a 9-hour spinal surgery to support her spine and, after a period of recovery and a WHOLE lot of painkillers,  that was the end of that.

Or so we thought.

During the surgery it was discovered that the reason the vertebrae weakened in the first place was due to the fact she has myeloma, a type of cancer that develops from cells in the bone marrow. Since then she has had to undergo radiotherapy, bone marrow extraction (which hurts, a LOT), 2 bouts of chemotherapy, a 3 week stay in hospital, hair loss and more blood tests than you've had hot dinners.

Thankfully, we've now come through the other side and I'm delighted to say she's in remission and doing great. She went through all of the above with a smile on her face and she's an inspiration to everyone who knows her.

Now, it feels weird that I'm about to say this given everything I've just written but, in the grand scheme of things, she's been lucky. Lots of people have a much, much worse time of it with myeloma. Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is told they have a blood cancer like leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma. That is why I have decided to use my marathon place as an opportunity to raise money for DKMS.

DKMS are dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and blood disorders. Their mission is to provide a matching donor for every blood cancer patient in need of a blood stem cell donation.They're a fantastic charity who do amazing and important work so please give as much as you can. Also, please check out their website and consider becoming a donor. You could literally save someone's life.

Wow, essay.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and, if you made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back.

Lot's of love,

John Lace