Those of you who follow our blog will be aware of the esteem in which we hold Auditory Verbal UK, without whose help, Alice wouldn’t be where she is today and without whom Oliver’s future in the hearing world would not be so bright.

You will also know how, as a family, we do whatever we can to help them to help others.

Over the past three years, Alice’s Mummy and I have taken part in Triathalons and have rowed the Thames twice to raise money for our friends at AV. In doing so, we have raised c. £12,000 and we know what a difference this makes to them.

I am not built for running. Any rower will tell you that the muscles are all in the wrong places and I’m just too damn heavy. Hence the prospect of a half – marathon around Silverstone race track fills me with horror. Particularly as it is in only seven weeks’ time. Nonetheless, I have been fighting the frost and trudging the pavements of Surrey in training. My calves are agony and I have blisters on my blisters.

If you have a spare moment, do please visit my JustGiving page and, if you are able, give whatever you can to support me in my run and to help such a wonderful organisation that really does change people’s lives.