Well I s'pose I’d better get stuck in and lead from the front for a change, LRF have asked me to do a marathon run for them at a venue of my choice.  So after much research and investigation I’ve decided to help them with the Queen’s Jubilee Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games.  'Tis going to be hard I know, and I’ll need a great deal of grit and determination in order to complete such an epic struggle but hey, I just know I CAN do it! 

I’m told the competition is bound to be fierce so I will need a great deal of your fiscal support in addition to about 50 volunteers spread out along the route at each designated rest station in order to mop my fevered brow and massage aching muscles.  But with Club members help I reckon I’ll just about make it in record time. 

I’ve started training and have already halved my initial time over the distance, (mainly by leaving less and less time each night for the dash to the pub for last orders – really serious stuff!), which, according to my allotted Olympic trainer, is a tremendous achievement in itself!  The hardest bit being unclenching my hand from a pint pot and getting my lardy rear (what doesn’t fit in either Barry Sweeney’s OR Nick Gamble’s cars!) out of a favourite chair.

The Relay will begin on the 11^th March, Commonwealth Day, and leaving Buckingham Palace, will travel to approximately 22 Commonwealth countries before returning to the UK on the 6th June to continue through Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Wales and England for 50 days. 

www.commonwealthgames.com

The Baton will be carried by 5,000 individuals throughout the UK, with each runner passing the Baton on to the next, through over 500 towns. Included in the 5,000 runners will be athletes, community representatives, celebrities, a wide cross section of people from all walks of life and erm.. and um.. ME! 

So stick the 22^nd July JUNE in your diaries, fill up the 7 and pack plenty of bunting and fivers for this epic feat of endurance in Arundel, West Sussex, where I shall be proudly carrying the Queens baton for the full 500 yards in a planned record time of just on 5 minutes. I reckon that’s worth a £1 a minute of anyone’s money don’t you? So fivers please to me, payable to LRF.

A final word from Sean Brazier of LRF:

Just wanted to drop you a line to say well done for breaking the 120 grand mark. You've got to be pretty pleased with yourself about that.  And so should everybody who's contributed - do pass our massive gratitude on to everybody that helps, won't you?

I've been thinking about your 500 yards you're going to have to do for this baton thing, and I think you should start your training off at about 50 yards and then build up.  You could do some serious damage if you attempt it straight off, without months of training. I don't know why I think I'm so funny; I've just agreed to do a half marathon in October.  Better stop sitting around on my bum and do some exercise!

Hope you're well,

Séan 
020 7269 9063 
sbrazier@lrf.org.uk 
Leukaemia Research Fund, 43 Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JJ 
Registered charity 216032, a company limited by guarantee 738089