I'm fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Some of my friends may not know that I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at  the end of last year.

I was lucky - I was able to have surgery. Most people aren’t. Half of them are dead within three months. But even with surgery, the 5-year survival rates are brutal. And the only way to change those facts is by more research.

That, and providing more support for patients, is what this appeal is all about.

It looks as if I’ll still be blundering my way through chemo in September, so this target may turn out to be tougher than it looks. But I’ll do my best, and I’d be more  grateful than I can say for your support.

Nurses, doctors, surgeons; family, friends, Penny - I could write a whole essay about Penny - have done so much to help me through the last few months. But now I want to do something myself.

And this is it.