My journey is going to involve lots of running.  But don't worry, I don't intend to bore you (and myself) with three months of lycra-related updates.  However, to make this 'asking for money' thing a little more exciting, I'm running a little marathon sweepstake.

Below is a list of marathon personal bests (PBs) from a variety of people - mostly non-professional celebrities, with a few world records thrown in. You are invited to select the PB which you think will be closest to my own finishing time on 24 April.  Just put the time and celebrity/record-holder's name in the comments box when you make your donation.  Only one sponsor for each PB, so I'll aim to keep the list updated so you know which times have already been taken.  The winner gets a bottle of something fancy from the college wine cellar. 

Well, what are you waiting for?!

The list of PBs:

2:02:57, Dennis Kimetto (World Record) - GONE to Claire A

2:15:25, Paula Radcliffe (World Record) - GONE to Craig F

2:46:03, Alan Turing (mathematician) - GONE to Kirsty S

2:52:30, Jenson Button (F1) - GONE to Catherine H

2:54:39, Nell McAndrew (clearly wasted on modelling) - GONE to Charlotte O

3:13:00, Michel Roux (TV chef) - GONE to Clive S

3:23:54, Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) - GONE to Simon C

3:30:37, Gordon Ramsay (TV chef) - GONE to Sarah H

3:31:52, Andrew Strauss (cricketer) - GONE to Tim B

3:41:49, Flea (musician) - GONE to Iz

3:44:19, Sophie Raworth (newsreader) - GONE to Beck F

3:44:52, George W. Bush (politics) - GONE to Gemma and Scott

3:46:45, Christy Turlington Burns (model) - GONE to Helen E

3:48:01, Edward Norton (actor) - GONE to Rachel B

3:52:02, Emma Denton (world record for the fastest marathon dressed as an organ (female) - she ran as an eyeball) - GONE to Graham D

3:53:45, Alastair Campbell (politics) - GONE to Matthew G

3:56:12, Will Ferrell (actor) - GONE to Julie G

3:59:33, Ronan Keating (musician) - GONE to Alice W

3:59:36, Sarah Palin (politics) - GONE to Trudy W

4:02:35, Will Young (musician) - GONE to Alan F

4:04:00, Sean Austin (actor) - GONE to Natasha K

4:05:30, Karen Irons-Mclean (world record for fastest marathon dressed as a playing card (female)) - GONE to Mette B

4:13:22, Amanda Holden (TV personality) - GONE to Simon J

4:14:54, P. Diddy (musician) - GONE to Ian A

4:17:03, Alanis Morissette (musician) - GONE to Mum and Dad

4:19:16, Edwin van der Sar (footballer) - GONE to Peter O'C

4:19:47, Sadiq Khan (MP) - GONE to Lucy Mowatt

4:25:30, Ethan Hawke (actor) - GONE to Alice Mowatt

4:29:20, Oprah Winfrey (TV presenter) - GONE to Sophie L

4:35:31, Shia LaBeouf (actor) - GONE TO Ashley W

4:44:21, Kim Sears (I wish I knew what she did aside from being Andy Murray’s wife) - GONE to Alix M

4:53:15, Chris Evans (TV presenter)

4.57:40, Ed Balls (Chairman of NCFC)

4:58:25, Al Gore (politics)

5:06:42, Teri Hatcher (actor)

5:26:42, Katherine Jenkins (musician)

5:29:58, Katie Holmes (actor)

5:41:03, Pamela Anderson (actor)

7:33:00, George Bingham (ran the 2010 London Marathon with a 4.4m Angel of the North on his shoulders) - GONE to Catherine P

5 days, 8 hours, Lloyd Scott (ran the 2002 London Marathon in an antique diving suit)

[Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for the factual accuracy of the internet]