Having successfully completed my 2024 challenge of running 10km a day for 145 consecutive days and covering 950 miles I'm challenging myself this year to run 6 distance events over a 6 month consecutive period. Between April and September I will be running 2 marathons (London in April and Edinburgh in May), 2 half marathons (Newcastle in July and Ipswich in September) and 2 10ks (Leeds in June and York in August) in support of the Ruth Strauss Foundation.

Whilst a significant challenge in itself I have decided to make it a little more interesting by running all of these in full batting kit! That's pads, gloves, cap and a bat!

I’m continuing to take on these challenges in tribute to my wife Erika who sadly passed away in July 2022 having been diagnosed 18 months earlier with stage 4, incurable bowel cancer. Despite receiving such devastating news Erika instinctively knew that we needed to talk to our children about her diagnosis and the cancer journey that lay ahead regardless of how painful and difficult this would be. She did so as she was determined that her cancer would not define them, their future or our family and that they would continue to thrive when she was no longer able to be with us.

The bravery and selflessness she showed in doing so during this difficult time is beyond words but has been instrumental in helping the children and I prepare for and grieve her loss. In tribute to Erika and to build on her legacy we are supporting the amazing pre-bereavement work that the Ruth Strauss Foundation do in helping other families prepare their children for the very sad loss of a parent or carer.

Tragically, 46,300 children under the age of 18 are affected by the loss of a parent or carer each year in the UK. That's an average of 127 children each day who face such devastating loss.

On behalf of every young person and their family who will benefit from your donation, thank you.