It has been over a year since Lawrence Matz passed away, but no one has forgotten him. He was such a presence in everyone’s lives that no one will ever forget him.

Everyone has their own memories of him. My favourite memory is of the man who is on our wedding video jumping about in the air one second, and doing Russian dancing the next second without a care in the world.

My children still often talk about Lawrence and ask if he can see them from the clouds. In such a short period of time, he had such an effect on them, always having time to play with them, coming to our house on his way home from work to have a quick cuddle with them both.

This cruel disease has deprived Gloria, Betty, Norma, Mark, Adam, and all his family and friends of many more happy years with him, which is why I have committed the next 6 months of my life to Lawrence and his memory.

In June 2011, we went to his flat for dinner, and he showed me a video that was sent to him of a man who had had a successful lung transplant, and we joked together that once he had his transplant, we would do a run together. He was put on the transplant list 1 month later, but his phone never rang. 6 weeks later he died, but his spirit lives on amongst us all. I want to keep my word and complete this marathon with him by my side.

At the same time, I want to raise money to help find a cure to stop other families going through what everybody who knew Lawrence has gone through.

I know times are tough, I know you have all given charity before and are asked every month by a different person, but please just open your wallets one more time. Lets try to beat this killer disease so noone else goes through what Lawrence Matz lived through.