The race is run, my trainers are off, blisters gone and knees still aching but all of the hard work has certainly paid off. Over the last few weeks I've been overwhelmed by the support and generosity of so many kind people – from the bottom of my heart, thank you. With the help of my nearest and dearest I've hosted a charity meal, manned a charity boot sale and, of course, run a mile race around St James’ Park, Westminster - all in one hectic weekend! The charity meal was a success and, after our raffle and a kind donation from the restaurant, brought in £190. On race day, including all sponsorship money and a big donation from Bupa we were already at £854 – a huge amount of motivation to keep me puffing around the course! The race started on The Mall, opposite Buckingham Palace and although HRH didn’t come outside to wave the starting flag, she was certainly home and probably watching. From there I ran towards Admiralty Arch, past Horse Guards Parade, around St James’ Park, along Birdcage Walk and past Wellington Barracks before finishing on Spur Road facing Buckingham Palace. I was slightly nervous before the race at the amount of serious runners lining up beside me but was encouraged to spot some other charity racers amidst the crowds. I’m delighted that I managed to run the whole mile and so very nearly beat my ambitious target time of 10 minutes. Despite my best attempt at a 200 metre sprint to the finish, I crossed the line in 10 minutes and 7 seconds. After a lot of breathing, flag waving, thumbs upping and clapping other runners across the line we celebrated with lunch and went home to prepare for the boot sale. As the big £1,000 edged closer I was hopeful that our last event, the charity sale, would fetch the then £130 we needed to get us into four figures. We loaded the car full of all sorts and set off into the sunrise to face the challenge. A little exhausted, I’ll never forget the wave of emotion as we counted up the change above and beyond our target to £188. So, without further ado… together, with all of your kind donations and sponsorship, the charity meal, a raffle and the boot sale we have raised… £1,200 Once again, thank you. Thank you for supporting, sponsoring and believing in me, thank you for helping me to make such a huge difference to the British Lung Foundation and most of all, thank you for giving what you have in memory of Nan. She spent her life giving everyone who knew her all the love she had and to raise such an amazing amount of money just goes to show how loved she really was. Here’s to you, here’s to us and here’s to Nan.

I'm not a super hero Or a knight in shining armour To coin a phrase, you wouldn't say "That idea's a Brahma" But I'd like to make a change you see And do a thing that's right To leave a little legacy And save somebody's life I lost my Nan in March She raised me like a son I shared with her my birthday And a childhood of fun She had pulmonary fibrosis Which took away her puff Though she never let it stop her And was determined to be tough She caught a chest infection And the nurses kept her in They just couldn't get on top of it Or cure the bloomin' thing They could only watch and wait As it took my Nan away And I don't want another life To end in the same way So I hope that you can help me And the British Lung Foundation To find a cure that might one day Prevent this situation I'm running in a race And I'd appreciate a lot A sponsorship from you With the spare change that you've got In honour of my Nanny Joan You can donate how you like In person, text, click or call And help me save a life I recently lost my Nanny Joan to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and have since discovered the British Lung Foundation and all of the great work that is being done to raise awareness and research treatment for this increasingly common disease. I plan to run the Bupa Westminster Mile on Sunday 24th May to raise some funds to help the British Lung Foundation continue their vital research into IPF (and to give my own lungs a rare airing!) Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, chronic and incurable lung disease. Killing over 5,000 people a year in the UK - it is on a par with far better known conditions such as leukaemia. The British Lung Foundation is funding vital research into IPF and needs help to continue its work understanding, developing treatments and raising awareness of the disease. Please give what you can and help the British Lung Foundation to learn more about IPF. Thank you Stew