The well-intentioned efforts of Wee John and me to raise a few quid to tackle the evil that is blood cancer are finally beginning to reap some rewards.
Thanks to a growing number of especially kind individuals, we're now past the £500 mark and we know that there are several others preparing to go online and give us what they can. We're obviously extremely grateful to everyone who does.
And we received a significant boost today when Tony Blair's former communications chief Alastair Campbell agreed to my request for him to share our fundraising link with his more than 103,000 followers on Twitter.
I've had dealings with him in various guises in the past, and found him very straightforward.
I've also been long aware of his wholehearted commitment to our chosen charity, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.
Alastair’s best friend and colleague John Merritt died of leukaemia in 1992 and, six years later, John’s daughter Ellie also died of the disease, aged nine.
In 2003, while still working in Downing Street, Alastair took on the London Marathon. The story hit the headlines and he raised more than £370,000 for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. He has since completed several marathons and triathlons, raising over £1million for the charity.
Wee John and I are indebted to him for endorsing our own efforts.
But, more importantly, so is our friend Mags, who I spoke to today and for whom we are putting ourselves through all of this.
You can make your own donation to our fund by following this link.
