I was lucky (?) enough to get a place for the 2025 London Marathon via the ballot. This will be my third marathon. In 2017, I ran the Liverpool Marathon for Cancer Research after my mum died of cancer in 2015 and I managed to raise £1300. In 2018, I had a charity place for the London Marathon - I ran for Sense. I managed to raise £1750. I may have mentioned to many of you that it was the hottest London Marathon on record! I said I would never do a marathon again but always secretly wished I hadn't said that. So each year, I entered the London ballot and each year I was slightly relieved to get the 'Sorry, you don't have a place' email. So imagine my surprise, and horror, when I got the email to say I was in! I am not as young as I was 7 years ago, but running this at the end of April at the age of 55 is the challenge I need.

I wanted to run for a local charity and I have chosen Halton Haven Hospice. They do an amazing job. My mother in law, Bobby, was cared for there back in 2012. The staff were so caring and they made sure she passed peacefully. Last year, a family friend, Ste Rizzotti, was diagnosed with cancer and the hospice gave him the best care possible and looked after his family in the most difficult times. Ste's wife, Jayne, is also fundraising for Halton Haven and you can see her fundraising page here - https://www.justgiving.com/page/jayne-rizzotti-1724135311839?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fjayne-rizzotti-1724135311839&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

Halton Haven Hospice provides specialist palliative care to people from Halton and surrounding areas who are living with terminal conditions. The specialist palliative care focuses on supporting patients physically, psychologically, and emotionally to enable them to carry on living the lives they want to live for as long as possible.

The Hospice includes an In-Patient Unit (IPU) for palliative and end-of-life care, and a Day Hospice Clinic delivering support, treatment, assessment, rehabilitation, and therapy for people living with a life-limiting diagnosis. They also have a Community Cabin, a woodland trail, and extensive gardens for the benefit of our patients, families, and local community.

They help hundreds of people and their families each year. I am proud to be running for them.

Not having run a great deal in recent times, my plan is to get fit again first of all. So, September and October will see a return to regular running and sorting my diet. Then from November, the proper training plan will begin. I actually love running long distances. I just need to get my running mojo back and I will. I am doing this for Bobby, Ste, my mum and everyone else who has been taken away by cancer.

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

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for any donation you are able to make.