On April 17th, I will be lining up for the 2011 Virgin London Marathon; a point in time that will mark the culmination of 19 weeks of training. Regular readers of my blog, my posterous blog and twitter will have seen my progress through snow and cold of the winter months. As we now approach the spring and the weather is getting better the training will become more enjoyable.

BLISS logo

I have chosen to BLISS, the charity for babies born too soon, too small, too sick. There are so many worthy charities and causes out there, however, BLISS is one close to my heart.

Virgin London Marathon – Why I’m running for BLISS

London Marathon - why I'm running for BLISSI have chosen to run for BLISS because my own daughter was born prematurely in April 1999. She will be 12, a week or two before the London Marathon. All in all, our family was cared for by the neonatal and special care baby units at Warwick Hospital. My daughter was born at 32 weeks, weighing 3lbs 2oz; luckily apart from the earliness of her birth she was well in all aspects because of the care received. She has subsequently grown into a healthy and happy young lady.

There were many who were not so fortunate, their children being born very early and suffering some form of long-standing health problems or disability. However, in years gone by none of us may have expected to have a child survive that had been so early.

Happy, healthy daughter

I also know many people that have benefitted from the care given by special care and neo-natal units, I want to give something back; I would like more people to enjoy the outcomes that I have, a happy and healthy child

Running for BLISS in the London Marathon – will you sponsor me?

There are many calls on you and your finances, however, if you can spare a small amount and would consider sponsoring me to run my first marathon, the Virgin London Marathon, I would be extremely grateful. I have set up a Justgiving page at http://www.justgiving.com/robjcameron-VLM11

Thank you. Bring on 17th April 2011 and the 2011 Virgin London Marathon