Yes, the rumours are true! The (foolish) man made of glass is running the London Marathon. As if three retirements from rugby were not enough, the quest for pain and misery rumbles on. 

And now, my dear reader, it is your time to actively encourage and participate in my pain. 

But if my suffering, aching, agony, and sorrow are not enough of an incentive to donate, here are 5 more equally motivating reasons. 

1. I HATE RUNNING 

Hate is a strong word, but I really do HATE running. It is a dull, boring, and arduous hobby that makes absolutely no sense to me. And yes, I'm aware that's hypocritical given that I am running a marathon. So, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to not only actively participate in my pain, but also partake in the extension of my boredom; the more people that donate, the longer the practice runs. As an added bonus, I will even dedicate one section of the marathon to each donor so that I can highlight the exact moment of boredom that has YOUR name on it. 

2. AMBITIOUS ABOUT AUTISM NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT 

My passion for my career and the young people I support is well-known to anyone who encounters me in the real world. On a daily basis, I witness first-hand the impact and influence Ambitious About Autism has on the lives of young people that have previously not received the provision they deserve. Your donation will further support the organisation to continue to change the lives of autistic young people, meaning that your money does a lot more than cushioning my pain and torment. 

3. AGAIN, AMBITIOUS ABOUT AUTISM NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

Don't just take my word for it, let the data be your guide. 

Only 21.7% of autistic people are in any form of paid employment. 
70% of under-18s are waiting longer than the NHS deadline for diagnosis. 
56% of autistic children have been sent home illegally from school or denied an education. 
26% of parents wait over three years to receive support for their autistic child. 

4. I AM THE ONE RUNNING, NOT YOU

Let's be serious, many of you have said "maybe I'll run a marathon at some point" and yet we are here. But not all is lost, your donation will allow you to live vicariously through me. Effectively, you will be running the marathon too - but without the boring and difficult running part. 

5. IT IS A NICE THING TO DO

Ultimately, you should donate because it is a nice thing to do. They say kindness does not cost a thing, but in this case it does - sorry about that. If that is not selling it to you, picture this: 

You donate money on this page. You feel good about it. Done. 

In conclusion, please donate to my MARATHON effort (Get it....? Marathon...? Oh, I'm clever) and support me in what is a genuinely difficult but rewarding thing to do. You can guarantee that I will put maximum effort into everything, as I have done with my stupid feats of physical pain and torment in the past, and your donation will make a genuine difference. 

If you fancy posting up somewhere and cheering me on during race day, look out for the long-haired, tattooed man in short shorts with a particularly bouncy running style. 

Finally, please share this page with your networks, families, friends, tech-savvy pets, enemies, and anyone else you can think off. 

Yours sincerely, 

Iestyn
THE ONE HIP WONDER