The Highland Hospice gave the most wonderful care to my friend Melanie - and to her husband Tom and their son (my godson) Joe - during her final months last year.

As a small way of saying thank-you to the amazing and dedicated Hospice team, and to Mel for all her love and friendship over the years, I took on the challenge to raise funds by getting out of my comfort zone, training for, and completing the Loch Lomond 10k in June and the Great Scottish Run Half Marathon in October.

So now comes the biggest challenge - running my childhood hometown of Inverness in the Half Marathon in March, and then the London Marathon on Sunday 21st April. Before that come many hours of training runs and treadmills at all kinds of strange hours in all kinds of weather, cutting out lots of favourites and treats from my diet, and defintely getting way outside of my usual comfort zone.

But all for the most incredible cause and ensuring those who need it most get the care and support they need at the most difficult of times.

Please chip in if you can...

(the cover photo shows the rainbow over Inverness viewed from the hospice the morning after Mel passed away.)