Hello all

 

I'm doing two things this year that would promt me to ask for donations, to save on admin and general frustration, I've put them both on this one compendium of a just giving page, which means I'm only going to ask this once.

I've had a casual interest in running for years now but due to a massive dislike of organised things and "grown up stuff" I've never made the effort to actually enter a race, being content instead to overtake dog walkers on the cycle path and cheer inwardly at the triumph... The joy of these victories, although sweet, is starting to wear thin, and so I have decided to enter some events where the other people involved actually know that they are racing.

I have chosen to support Pete's Pancreas Project, which is a fundraising effort set up by my friend Dan Dowen following his Father being diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer at the age of 62. The object of the fund to finance some research to help people and families who are put into a similar situation to Pete and his family. "The Dowen Trust Fund" has been set up by Pete’s son Daniel and his surgeon at The Hepatobiliary Unit, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne. The project hopes that by raising money it can help other patients and their families who are also faced with this diagnosis.

I have entered two events this year, the Stockton River Rat Race in August, which will involve swimming in the Tees. I imagine that this will be made all the more entertaining by the diverse mineral density of the water, in some places it's possible to do cartwheels over actual carts. It's worth a look http://www.ratraceadventure.com/riverratrace/ we even have to climb the newport bridge.

My second event is in October, when I will run the Kielder Marathon, not one of the easier ones I'm told, but it looks spectacular and was late enough in the year for me to get some much needed training in before hand. I've never covered this sort of a distance before, and expect that it won't be repeated, so roll up for a place in history ladies and gentlemen and please donate to this great charity in return for my commitment to run until it hurts (nearly) every sunday until I can have some confidence of finishing the course.

Thanks everyone.