Well another tough year to put behind me and yet another year to make a positive change. 2007 saw my mum develop cancer and subsequently die from it, I was on hand to deal with the fatal heart attack caused by it at home. However without that life had been tough enough, we had lost my father in 2003 and then one of my brothers died in later that year from a genetic condition called Haemachromatosis.

I also have the genes that cause the condition and have been trying to keep ahead of the game so to speak by exercising. I have also set myself a number of charity challenges some of which I was aiming to complete last year before mum became so ill.

The first two of which includes rowing five million metres by the start of the Olympic rowing regatta on the 9th August. The other is running the London marathon in April, doing the Ironman and cycling around Britain plus other events. I’m also going to be a sort of control centre whilst my friend sails around Britain for our charities. We have the heady target of £34,000 to reach. Including raising money for a number of worthy cancer charities, including Jane Tomlinson’s appeal, the Ellen Macarthur trust and the Weldmar Hospice Trust. I’m also running an indoor rowing competition in Southampton from the 14th to the 16th February.

So there it is for 2008 I’m going to have to work very hard, face some tough physical and emotional times. However I should raise so much need funds for worthy causes and most importantly awareness.

For donations:

www.justgiving.com/bombayduck2008

For news

www.bombayduck.org