I’m running the London marathon in April in memory of my grandad, Tom Sharp, who we sadly lost 10 years ago this August. I hate running and I’m utterly terrified. Let me explain why I’m doing it.

My grandad used to live and work in the Tower of London and I would visit him on weekends and stay with him most summers.

The marathon route used to go straight past his house and every year we would watch it together, cheering on all of the exhausted runners from the front garden. Happy memories.

My grandad was a very proud man and after he was diagnosed with cancer he knew he didn't want to spend his last days in hospital or a hospice. He wanted to be at home when the inevitable happened and that wish was fulfilled thanks to the incredible work of the Marie Curie nurses that cared for him right to the end.

They were a constant presence in the final weeks of his life. They made sure he was comfortable. They made sure he always had the right medication. They helped to pick up the pieces when our family shattered.

And then they moved on to support the next family in need, without a moment to think of themselves.

Cancer is a horrible disease. It robs people of so much. It robbed me and my grandad, and our family, of many happy years together.

Without Marie Curie he would also have been robbed of dignity and peace in his final days.

I’ll always be grateful to those nurses and I’ve fundraised for Marie Curie ever since I saw their work firsthand. Ten years on, I’d like to do something more than shake a tin at London Bridge station.

I’d like to do something special to say thank you to those incredible nurses, make it possible for them to continue to provide such incredible support to others, and of course to honour the memory of my grandad.

I can’t think of anything better than the London Marathon and running past the spot we used to cheer people on from.

Just because I can’t think of anything better, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea!

Those who know me well know that I actually hate running. In fact I’m not a massive fan of exercise in general.

My ideal evening involves laying on the sofa with the telly on, with the only physical movement involving a takeaway, a pint and chocolate.

Just the idea of doing the marathon completely fills me with dread. That’s why I’m so far behind on my training schedule. It’s also why I’m so far behind on achieveing my fundraising target.

So why am I doing this?

I’m doing this because I think it’s going to be incredibly hard. We are talking deep suffering, for many, many hours.

If it wasn’t hard, I wouldn’t be doing grandad’s memory justice ten years later.

If it wasn’t hard, it wouldn’t live up to the incredibly difficult work that Marie Curie nurses do every day without complaint.

If it wasn’t hard, it wouldn’t inspire you to donate your hard earned money to this cause.

So please give whatever you can. I would like to raise £2,000. That’s enough to fund a nurse to provide nearly two weeks of in-home end of life care, just like my grandad had access to.

£23 could pay for an hour of expert care and emotional support for someone living with a terminal illness, in the comfort of their own home.

£100 could help fund half an evening's care in a person's home when they need it most.

£200 could help fund nine hours of nursing support in someone's home through the night, bringing the expert care and comfort families need.

If not for this incredible cause or to honour the memory of someone so important, then please donate purely for the joy of getting see me suffer.

I’ll be a sweaty, tearful mess, slowly plodding round the streets of London and I’ve no doubt the photos will be worth every penny you contribute.

Thank you so much in advance for your support, donations or even your good wishes. They will help get me round that course and to a pub at the end!

Fena x