On the 2nd of November I will be running the New York Marathon for the fourth time. This year I am raising money for the Royal British Legion (RBL). The RBL provide financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependants.

Too often our veterans are overlooked. I am as guilty and embarrassed as anyone for being complacent about what our forefathers did to protect our freedom, and to the many thousands who have continued to protect our freedom in more recent times.

Over the past week I have learned and am amazed by the work of the RBL and their volunteers. Knowing that I am playing my small part in supporting the legion and their work is the only motivation I need for the hundreds of hours of training that are in front of me. I hope you are able to give generously; all money raised via my page will go directly to the RBL.

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.