For over 25 years now I have been working as a doctor and for a great many of those years I let my work be an excuse to not look after my own health.

Ironically for most of this time I have been actively involved in the operative management of heart disease. Acutely aware of the risks I was still able to "let myself go", forgoing exercise and letting myself become overweight. I was heading the same way as a lot of the patients I was operating on. Sure, I had dabbled with swimming and cycling to lose weight but with varying injuries it was too easy to just get back into old habits.

Three years ago, however, I decided to have a go at running. Starting with a couch to 5k program, I then decided to have a go at a half marathon. Having survived that I set my goal to completing a marathon. I achieved this goal in April 2014 and since that time I have gone on to complete 3 other marathons and one ultra marathon. In the process I have run over 6000km and, in combination with an improved diet, lost some 25kg.

Now, thanks to the Heart Foundation, I have been given the opportunity to run in the London Marathon in a few weeks time. This is a marathon I have dreamed of entering as it is the city of my birth.

The Heart Foundation have supported me and now I would like to support them. I hope you can join me in this support by donating whatever you can for this very important cause. Heart disease is still the biggest killer of men and women in this country and by raising funds for the Heart Foundation hopefully we can make a difference.

Thank you.

John