If you know me well you'll know I'm not known for my running or fitness, you'll know my limited football career was characterised by my lack of pace and you'll know that the few 10k races I've run were years ago so this is a massive challenge.

I decided that at the age of 44 if I was ever going to run a marathon it would have to be now. Before Easter I hadn't run regularly for around 5 years and a slow lap round the park was a struggle. If anyone needs the encouragement of your sponsorship, I do! It's for a great cause and I've seen first hand the brilliant work TLG do so please give generously.

TLG are a special charity to me - I've been a trustee and my wife Sian is one of their directors. They are a national charity which started in our local city of Bradford. Mostly though, they are special because they work to bring a hope and a future to struggling children, they exist because they believe that every child deserves to feel loved, feel safe and to be educated.

The money you give will have a great impact, already across the pandemic TLG have provided one million meals to hungry families through their 'Boxes of Hope'. Since they started they have run over 30,000 early-intervention sessions with primary school pupils in danger of exclusion and they now reach more than 5000 struggling children and their families each year. Recent research has found that 87% of teachers have seen a decline in the mental health and well-being of their students since lockdown so it's a key time to help.

The Virtual London Marathon allows runners to take part in the race from anywhere in the world and will be taking place on the 3rd October (the same day as the main race). I have to use an official London Marathon App to log my run and need to complete 26.2 miles or 42.2 km. 

I'm a bit nervous and daunted by the challenge, particularly as someone who's never run more than single figure miles - the encouragement and will power I need will come from the knowledge that your donations are going to a great cause.

Will you motivate me to run another mile? I need my generous friends to encourage me with a donation to keep me running and to help transform lives for good! TLG will use every single pound you give to support children facing the toughest starts in life - bringing hope and a future.

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 TLG. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for TLG.