Firstly, I am running to raise money for the Older Person's Fund at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. As a Consultant Geriatrician there for the last 3 years, I have seen the great work the hospital does for older people but we can always do more to improve their experience. Hopefully, this will go a little way to helping with that.

Secondly, the photo atop this page is me, 6 years ago, when I last did the Great North Run. Having not done any serious exercise since then, signing up for the run was definitely my attempt to recapture a little bit of the fitness I use to have. It is not going to be easy!

Thank you for your donation. Please include "Older Persons Fund" or my name in the payment reference to ensure the money goes to the right place.