Hi, Barry here.

The idea for this awfully big adventure came to me as I trained for the British 10k that I ran for Macmillan in 2012.  I was feeling miles away from my mum Mary, I was in London and she was in Scotland dealing with chemotherapy and her illness.

Mum was diagnosed with bowel and secondary liver cancer in 2011. From the very beginning when she was diagnosed she was brave and determined to have a positive outlook. I found her spirit totally inspiring and wanted to do something important for her.

I wanted her to know that her huge efforts were not going unnoticed and I also thought this run would be another positive thing for her to focus on.  However, I think she was appalled and worried about me at first! But! When she saw that I was taking it all very seriously and that my amazing friends were getting involved too she started to come round to the idea.

Originally we planned for her to be part of the support crew along the entire route from Paris to London. I knew that her cheering me on would make my legs work better than anything else, I wanted her to share in the adventure to its fullest and I really wanted to make her proud.

But, mum died on the 15^th of April this year, 2013. I am gutted that she won’t be with us but just thinking about her tenacity, strength, unconditional love and all the other memories I have of her is all I  need to drive me over all 6 finishing lines.

Those thoughts and of course my incredibly supportive friends and fiancé that I’ll be sharing the 6 day adventure with…

All the runners and my support crew, without all of them I could never have reached the stage we’re at now and I fully rely on their support, contribution and grit to make this all happen.

Together we are trying to raise as much money as we possibly can for Ninewells Hospital Ward 32 that cared for and treated my mum so well and for Macmillan Cancer Support who offer an incredibly holistic and critical service to any person who finds their life touched by cancer.

Please sponsor us, even if you’re skint… Every little bit really does count.

Thank you