Yes, I'm doing it again.

For a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the charity.

This isn't something that's going to go away, and it has a lifelong effect on people living with muscular dystrophy, not to mention the people around them.

It's what my cousins Oscar and Seb, and their family, Grant (who is much less handsome than me), Kerry and Scarlett, deal with on a daily basis.

Oscar and Sebastian Spink are identical twins from Lymm in Cheshire where they live with older sister Scarlett, mum and dad Kerry and Grant and their three dogs Pip, Bert and Ernie.

They were officially diagnosed in July 2019 with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).

While initially dealing with this diagnosis was a huge shock, the family work hard to keep a positive outlook – They’re helping to fund research into the boys’ condition by running a Family Fund and reaching out to others to get involved along the way too.

They have set a fundraising target of £40,000 and have already organised and taken part in a whole host of activities. These have included organising online bingo, auction and balloon race events, holding workplace coffee mornings, recruiting several runners for the London Marathon and Great North Run, taking part in Bake a Difference and Go Bright Days, and getting support from local businesses.

Oscar and Sebastian also designed and completed their own superhero step challenge – climbing the height of the Avengers tower from the Marvel films over the course of a month. With lots of other ideas to raise funds, the boys are keen to hit their target in 2023.

So, as they say, I am once again asking for your financial support.

Secondly, my London marathon itch remains unscratched. Last time out, in October 2021, I crawled round in about 5hrs 20mins. I felt strangely fatigued after about 15 miles (I'd been doing 20-22 miles without any serious problems in training, while nursing a couple of ongoing minor injuries) and my time was much slower than I'd anticipated. It turned out that I had covid at the time, and I spent most of the following 2 weeks in bed. Hence the fatigue. So I need to do it and do it properly.

Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity for the 110,000 children and adults living with muscle-wasting conditions in the UK. There's currently no cure, and it many cases, it limits lives. MDUK do vital work in funding pioneering research into treatments and cures as well as providing vital information, advice, resources and support for individuals and families living with these conditions.

In the immortal words of Bob Geldof, all donations, big or small, are greatly appreciated. At least I think that's what he said. Thank you!