This is a post to announce that I’d like to raise a few quid for charity.

I know exactly what you’re thinking, well maybe not exactly, but it’s probably along the lines of at least one of these:

• Here we go, another bloody person wanting my money.
• I’m fed-up with all this charity rubbish.
• I don’t care.
• I already do my bit for charity so I’m not interested.
• Sod off.
• I know too many people that are raising money for some charity or another – I can’t sponsor everyone.

So I’ll make this quick in the hope that you’ve at least read down to this point, and if you’ve read to this point you may just read a little bit further.

I’ve never made a habit of asking people for sponsorship; I can counts the times I have done so on one hand. Forgetting about any ridiculous sponsored events I did when I was a kid: sponsored 10m swim; sponsored slow bike race; or sponsored harvest festival tin collection; the last time I grovelled to anyone for sponsorship was 10 years ago, and that’s where I’d like to begin…

The London Marathon 2006 – a massive personal challenge – I didn’t get a charity place. I just thought that it was such a big event that I may as well collect a few quid for charity. On this occasion I raised the money, about £400 I think, although I can’t really remember now, for Shelter. A worthwhile cause, they help millions of people with bad housing and homelessness. I realised my £400 wouldn’t go far, I didn’t have the time or inclination to go crazy fundraising, but in the end I completed my challenge and a charity got a few quid. Job done.

Fast forward ten years…

I’m still the same busy person and still lacking the inclination to go crazy with the fundraising, so the plan is to try to raise a few quid for another great cause, without getting on everyone’s nerves with my grovelling for money. This time it’s the Milton Keynes Marathon – doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as The London Marathon – but it’s still 26.2 miles, which is a bloody long way. Especially when you’re ten years older. The charity: the Samaritans.

 

I’m not about to go into the ins and outs of what the Samaritans are about, I’m sure you already know, just to say…

‘The Samaritans are there when all your friends are asleep and you are alone in the world, with your thoughts.’

Having said all that, and I’m sure you saw this coming, if you fancy doing your ‘bit’ and helping a great cause, feel free to sponsor me. £1, £5, £10 or £10,000, whatever works for you. Click here if you fancy it.

An avid reader of this blog would be worried; it has been 28 days since my last post.

My last post just read ‘Still Poorly’ – I can imagine the thoughts running through your head: has he been abducted by aliens; has he decided to quit this world of social media; or has he simply just dropped dead?

Well I can now put the record straight…

Janathon had been going pretty well; a more relaxed approach, a lot of running plus a few planks when I was feeling tired or didn’t have the time. Then I was hit by it.

Man Flu.

I think it was probably a combination of things:

• All the exercise
• Working hard at school
• Donating blood

But it left me teetering on the edge of death.

  
The ever present grim reaper, like an old friend waiting to accompany me down the pub, was always close by. At one stage it was near impossible to make myself a Lemsip!

Therefore Janathon went for a Burton whilst I battled for survival. Needless to say I did survive. I was battered and bruised but I made it; I came through. 

In other news…

I’ve entered the Milton Keynes Marathon and will be looking for sponsorship to raise a few quid for charity. More on that another day…