For everyone reading this who does not know me my name is Peter Carmichael I am 35 years old and on the 22nd April 2007 I will be running the Flora London Marathon (26.2 miles). This will be the first time I have run a marathon in fact the furtherst I have run previously is 1500m (less than 1 mile)

The reason I have decided to run the marathon this year instead of sitting at home on my very comfy sofa watching it on television whilst eating my bacon sandwich is because I want to raise as much money as possible for a charity that is very, very close to my heart.

The charity is the premature baby charity BLISS, the reason BLISS means so much to me is due to myself and my wife having experienced the loss of twins at 20 weeks in 2002. The tragic loss of Luke and Isabel is the hardest experience both myself and my wife have ever gone through.

Know matter how much time passes, the hurt, anger and pain does not decrease we just learn to live with it. We still find silly little things can upset us usually when we least expect it. The loss of Luke and Isabel has changed our lives for ever.

Luke and Isabel were born at 20 weeks to the day so there was nothing the hospital staff could do to help. However the research and funding that BLISS is involved with could in the future help to find out why babies are sometimes born to early and also may be able to find out ways in which to help babies born to early survive.

If by running the London marathon I can help BLISS to find a way of preventing just one set of parents going through the heartache and suffering we have endured then all the training in the rain and the aches and pains will be more than worthwhile.

I have pledged to raise over £2500 so please help by sponsoring me and without sounding to obvious please remember every penny counts.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: BLISS will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

This is a charity that is very very close to my heart, please please help as much as you can. PLEASE SPONSOR ME NOW!

Many thanks for your support

Peter

In memory of Luke and Isabel our precious little angels forever in our hearts and mind XX