Right To Play is an international charity dedicated to improving the lives of children in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world by using the power of sport for development, health and peace. We target the most marginalized individuals in these areas including girls, persons with disabilities, children affected by HIV and AIDS, street children, former child combatants and refugees.

Right To Play trains local Coaches to run specially designed sport and play based programs to mobilize and educate communities around key health issues to support national health objectives (in particular HIV and AIDS prevention and vaccination campaigns), to create the foundation for long-term sport and play within communities and to develop individual and community leadership skills. Children that participate in these programs tend to have higher attendance rates at school, are healthier (and have healthier families) and often grow into leaders in their communities. The charity is supported by more than 350 of the world's best athletes from a wide variety of sports and represent over 40 countries. The Right To Play web site has a huge amount of information on the charity, its athlete ambassadors and the programs which it runs.

I have been involved with Right To Play for the last two years and recently joined the UK Board of Trustees. I have been able to see first hand that this charity is making a real impact on children's lives across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. There are currently almost 700,000 children participating in weekly activity sessions led by some 15,000 coaches and leaders in 23 countries. Our objective is for 1 million children to be active on these programs by the start of the London Olympics in 2012 and we have to raise funding to be able to achieve this target.

Last October, I ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London and with the help of so many generous supporters we raised a fantastic £5,555. It was proposed that I try and beat that amount by running in the London Marathon. It will be my first marathon and although technically only twice the distance of a half marathon, it feels like it is a lot further!

Thank you for supporting me and thank you for supporting Right To Play.