The man on the left of the picture was my dad, Malcolm Osborne and he was my hero. Actually, he was an icon, my mentor, my adviser and of course, my lender of last resort! A few of you will remember him, what a smart, funny, likeable, capable and loving man he was. 

My earliest memory of him was falling off a rubber dingy in the sea in Cornwall, tumbling down into the cold abyss his big hand came down and pulled me to safety. Of course I could have just stood-up, but he'd saved me nonetheless! A few years later, playing youth football in the cold winters, dad would be there at half time, warm as toast in his sheepskin jacket, which he would wrap around me and super-heat my cold hands in his. Fast forward to my teens and school holidays were often spent sat with him as he worked as a sales agent, tagging along as he visited customers, doing trade shows at the NEC, unknowingly at the time, these were to be my early experiences of the sharp end of business life.

Punctuating these happy memories though was the arrival of bowel cancer. I was in my late teens, doing my A-Levels when dad was diagnosed. He'd been suffering with ulcerative colitis for some time but they then discovered cancer. He went downhill very quickly to the point they were struggling to get him fit enough to operate. Thankfully they did, but the result was a colostomy. This smart, sporty and proud man now carried, in his words, "a 2lb bag of sh*t'"strapped to his side.

Whilst he hated it, the operation meant we'd still got him. If you had met him you wouldn't have known and he went back to work, arguably becoming even more successful. He now lived life to the full, travelled the world with mom and occasionally with us all. He also saw my sister and me grow-up and forge our own lives and careers. He was also a proud grandfather to my two young boys. Cancer made him and all of us realise that there was no guarantee of a long, happy retirement and you should make the most of every day. That was the silver lining.

Sadly though, you will have noticed I've referred to him in the past tense. Whilst we were lucky to have him for nearly 20 years longer, cancer returned. This time in his bladder and pancreas. Medication over the years had also stimulated Diabetes and despite more operations, we lost him. He was only in his early 60's. The church was full, the wake even more so - he was so loved by the many whom he also inspired. That was nearly 15 years ago and I think about him every day, normally with both a smile and a tear, I miss him so much.

This year I wanted to do something to properly remember him, but also to try and make a difference for the next generation of Malcolm's, the sons, brothers, husbands and dads diagnosed with Bowel Cancer who deserve the chance of a longer life and more time with their family than he had.

To try to make the biggest difference to others, I'd like to raise £3,000 For Bowel Cancer UK by attempting  "The big 3 for the big C" by taking on 3 of the most popular fundraising ideas in 3 months;

1. Doing Dry January (and beyond)
2. Losing 3 stone in 3 months
3. Doing couch to London Landmarks 1/2 marathon in 3 months

Those that know me will appreciate that doing this is a big ask! If you don't know me then I hope my story resonates with you and if you'd like to help make a difference, then please give what you can by making a donation on this page on behalf of Bowel Cancer UK Charity. . 

With your support we can help beat cancer - in memory of Malcolm xx - please donate what you can.