As you may remember, last year I stumbled from the Cheltenham Festival, hungover, poor and lame, and managed to complete the five mile mini-Marsden March.

As the Festival is a week earlier this year, I have no excuses and have somewhat ambitiously put myself forward for the epic 14 mile version from the Fulham Marsden site to the Sutton hospital on the 21st March. It has been promised to me that there are a suitable amount of pubs on the way for me to "refuel" at.

So, I have six weeks to get these short, stumpy legs into some kind of condition which will haul their equally sorry near-neighbour - my lardy arse - around the back streets of South London. By donating to the Royal Marsden via my Just Giving page you will not only be helping one of the best cancer charities around, you will also be helping me stave off full-blown obesity for another few months.

Given the herculean task ahead of me (it's over three Grand National's and a July Cup, for goodness sake!) I suspect this is the last time I will be tapping you up for any money, so do please give generously.

(and just to mention in passing... if anyone knows where there is any leftover Sungate (horsey steroids) hidden, I would be interested in taking it off their hands, no questions asked...)