About

Edit 30 March: Thanks so much to everyone who has donated so far. I'm sorry I can't say thank you to you individually but this is the first time I've used Givey. I chose it because it gives the largest % back to the charity, but the donation functionality is more complicated. If you want to add Gift Aid to your donation (if you're a UK taxpayer), you need to register before donating. Registering will also allow you to leave your name, so I can say thank you next time I see you! :-) THE MAIN BIT: I have unfinished business from last year. I ran the London Marathon. I didn't fundraise, but I wore a Harrison's Fund vest, planning on fundraising for them later in the year doing my 2nd Ironman in Bolton. The plan kind of... erm... didn't happen. I finished London, but so slowly I am embarrassed to even think about it. I had problems with injuries which were a hangover from the previous year, and just couldn't get past them. I sort of shuffled through, aided by my friend Rebeca who basically whacked me with a Harrison's Fund blow-up clapping stick stolen from Alex Smith (Harrison's dad - read his story here: https://www.justgiving.com/GreatestIronMan) and Gary Smith (aka Smithy 2 - read his award-winning book here, I contributed a chapter http://www.amazon.co.uk/Triathlon-Inspiring-stories-becoming-Ironman-ebook/dp/B00KYMKHSO) for the final 3 miles. (Thanks, Rebeca, that early horse riding career came in handy.) I had to pull out of Ironman UK, because my Achilles said no. So anyway, moving on. After much soul searching (I'm not kidding - for some reason this was a really difficult decision to make) - I entered the Manchester Marathon, which takes place on Sunday 19 April 2015. I am surprised to say that training has been going better than expected. Injuries have been minor, my Achilles has been brought to heel (see what I did there?) by improving my running form and doing a lot of eccentric heel dips (shout out to Nicki Combarro of Bodybalance Physiotherapy who got me through the Ironman in 2013 with these), and I've been enjoying the training and getting my pace back to a not-totally-embarrassing level. I didn't want to start fundraising too early, but as I type this, there are 4 weeks to go until the big race. I ran 20 miles today in 3:05:31 so I'm feeling confident. But enough about me. This is all about Harrison's Fund. The above links relating to Alex and Gary give some idea of what Harrison's Fund is about. I met Alex in 2013 and was struck by his absolute commitment and dedication to finding a cure for his son, Harrison, and other boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Duchenne doesn't have a cure and many of these young men don't make it to their 20s, which is heartbreaking. Alex will do whatever it takes to #maketime and is no stranger to potentially controversial campaigns (in my view there's nothing controversial about trying to save your son's life, but anyway) - the latest one is here: http://harrisonsfund.com/news-article.php/I-Wish-my-Son-was-a-Dog-8/ Hopefully after reading this you will feel as strongly as I do about this, and make a donation. Big, small, anything at all. It will make a difference and it will be gratefully appreciated by Alex, Harrison's Fund and me. Thank you for reading!