Having edited UK Pets for the past 12 years..

I hope you will forgive me for taking up a little space to promote a personal fundraising effort. I am running the 2012 Great North Run in September on behalf of St Oswalds Hospice in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Mary Ward, whom many advertisers may remember as one of the founders of UKPets, has been a patient there for the last five years.

Mary has Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer which develops in the bone marrow causing bone deterioration, fractures and chronic bone pain. St Oswalds has provided her with support, palliative and pain management care. All of their services are free of charge yet they need to raise £6 million every year to keep going.

I am running the half-marathon to give just a little back. But I need your help and sponsorship. I have set up a page for donations, with a bit more of Mary's story, here.

If you are a company and you would like me to add your logo to the gallery on that page, send me an email at: steve@ukpets.co.uk.

Thanks for your time.