Dearest family and friends,

As many of you may know, over the last few years running has become one of my biggest hobbies. I am currently training with Jolande, Mike, Arjan, Mark and Frank for the marathon in Düsseldorf in April 2015. I have taken part in almost twenty running events over the last couple of years, and this will be my second marathon. I am proud and honored to announce that I will be running on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support. In doing so I hope to raise funds and awareness for this charity that helps hundreds of thousands of cancer patients and their families in the UK. Macmillan nurses visit patients at home and guide them through each step. They often act as the 'interpreter' between the consultant and the patient, talking through the diagnosis and treatment plan in a more practical and easy to understand way. They offer help and support with hair loss and alternative therapy treatments to try and make them feel like themselves again. They give practical support and advice on benefits and travel insurance. The online forum offers a community of support from other families and patients facing a similar battle.

As many of you may also know, my mother was diagnosed with brain cancer last summer. For a while she was suffering from severe headaches, and suffered temporary facial paralysis in July. The devastating discovery was an inoperable brain tumor. She has undergone radiation therapy and is currently having top-up chemotherapy, which is going very well. The staff at the hospital are very pleased with how my mother is responding to the chemo, and according to the last MRI scan the tumor has not grown in size, which is a tremendous relief to us all.

The last eight months have been very difficult and a tremendous strain for us all. Thankfully my mother and my family have been able to rely on the Macmillan Cancer Support charity for information, help, advice and much needed support.

Which is the reason that I am running the marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support. My goal, with your help, is to raise funds and awareness for this charity. This site is a simple and safe way for you to help me raise funds, and I greatly appreciate your support, however small. It gives me so much pleasure, as a runner, to be able to make a contribution by being sponsored by you. I hope you are willing and able to help - any amount, however large or small, is greatly appreciated - and I would like to thank you all in advance for your help, support and donations.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.