Look, I know, these fundraisers can be a bit of a bore. I donate when I can and when I feel they are for a genuinely good cause, but until you experience the good some of these charities are doing it's easy to be fairly indifferent to them, I'm certainly guilty of that.

As some of you might know, my partner, Ulrike, has recently been treated at Charing Cross hospital for a tumour removal, and is now undergoing a lengthy course of daily radiotherapy.

Maggie's offers a space for her to go and sit in pleasant surroundings with decent facilities and cakes and tea and stuff like that, basically a way to get away from the ward, which although it is clean enough and the NHS staff are doing the best they can, is all a bit dreary - we used to joke about who her new cellmates were every evening. Maggie's is staffed by lovely volunteers who are there to talk to the patients (and relatives trying to cope with an unpleasant situation in progress or a bereavement). It gives Ulrike a place to go when she's in for her ongoing sessions, where she can do Yoga and attend various relevant support meetings.

As a charity that is relevant to me now, I thought I'd try to run my first half marathon (not likely to attempt a full marathon as don't currently have the time - or the inclination, I'm not that nice, fit, or disciplined) as a way to raise a little bit of cash, so I've signed up for the Kew half in March. Give what you can, or don't, I'm running anyway, but anything you can will be greatly appreciated.

Also, anything you do give is not going towards any entry fees on my behalf, those I paid off myself, and I'm also contributing personally to this fundraiser.

Below is the spiel from Maggie's. Thank you for your support, Cas.

Maggies West London needs your help now more than ever.

Were here giving the best possible support to people with cancer and their families at this incredibly difficult time.

We have one to one phone, skype, facetime and email support. Our online community, run by psychologists, cancer support specialists and benefits advisors, is there to answer questions directly and post daily blogs on how to cope with self isolation or treatment changes. You can join our online kitchen table and chat to others in the same position.

We're working shoulder to shoulder with our NHS colleagues currently offering them support and use of our centre when they need it for respite and breaks.

Everything we do depends on your kindness

We will always be there for people with cancer but we need you alongside us.

£10,000 would allow us to provide specialist cancer support through video or on calls for a whole month. Anything you can do to contribute will be making a real difference.

Thank you.