On 26^th April I rowed 26 miles on my rowing machine as part of the nationwide 2.6 challenge.  I have the honour of serving as Chairman for Royal Star & Garter, a charity that provides award-winning care for veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia. I set myself the ambitious target of raising £2620 to support their vital work. Like all organisations, the coronavirus outbreak has pushed their operations in a way that I could never have imagined. Their amazing staff are caring with courage on a daily basis to support their vulnerable residents.

I want to lead by example and do my bit to ensure Royal Star & Garter can continue offering the very best care through this pandemic and beyond. Please dig deep and help me meet my target. Thank you so much for your support - you have donated over £4000 in all (including the Gift Aid).  

After finishing the marathon on 26 Apr, I decided to keep going, to show solidarity with the staff and residents in these difficult times, and make virtual visits to our Homes in Surbiton, High Wycombe and Solihull - a total of 173 miles.  I am planning to arrive on Sunday 17 May, completing a half marathon on 16th and another on 17th.

Here is a little more about this great charity. Royal Star & Garter was founded in 1916 to care for the severely injured young men returning from the battlegrounds of the First World War. Today they provide loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia. They offer residential support for people in their Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe and also a day care service. Over the next five years they plan to move into providing care in peoples homes and developing specialist support for younger veterans. 

They work and live as one team, one family, one community, showing admiration and respect for residents - helping those who have had the courage to serve our country to live happy, fulfilled lives.