Julia Morneweg is taking part in the Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK on the 27th July at Kempton Park.

This charity's work helps thousands of people every year to survive the battle against cancer by raising funds for vital research into new treatment methods. Therefore if you can, please take a minute to look at my fundraising page and donate, no matter how much or how little, every penny helps! In return I promise to train rigorously and run the 5k as fast as I can!

Only a few days to go until one of the most amazing sporting and charity fund-raising events in the world, and I have been lucky enough to be given a place along with 35,000 other runners! And will I be the only one playing fanfares on the trombone...?

Training has been hard, painful and very time consuming, but also fun - highlighted by the Woburn 10k. The fear of being eaten by the lions keeps ya moving! There is a saying: 'Spring travels at walking pace' and it most certainly does. It is hard to believe it has been eight years since I walked from Land's End to John O' Groats, armed with trombone, treading the ground of beautiful Britain for three months and ' zig-zagging' up the national trails. Whilst listening to the wonderful sounds of spring, my trombone added some extra birdsong by imitating (a thousand times) the fanfares of the Lesser Spotted Splitwarbler.

Thanks to the generosity of many sponsors that venture raised £10,000. It was a life changing experience and I am sure the London Marathon will be too. I have to question my sanity about this latest challenge, thinking it might have been a better idea 30 years ago! I must be mad (correction: I am!) but at least I have the opportunity to do these crazy, fun things.

Many children like Jessie will never have the chance to achieve such goals. Jessie's Fund is a UK charity dedicated to helping seriously ill and disabled children by using music as a form of communication, and for therapy. We give children access to creative music-making and music therapy, working in hospices nationwide, and also in other settings, including hospitals, child development centres, pre-school groups, and schools for children with special needs.

Can you help me achieve my goal of £5,000 or more, which will enrich and bring joy to lives of desperately ill children? I would like to thank the many people that have sponsored me so far: - Members of the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Opera North, Gabrieli Consort and many others. I would also like to thank the Garrick Club for the pledge of a most generous donation.

Katy Tansey (wife of trombonist client Tom Lees), a hugely talented soprano and mother to Harry and Natasha, is sadly fighting a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. In addition to the excellent care that Katy is receiving at The Royal Marsden Hospital, she and Tom are attempting to raise the funds required to attend the residential courses run by the Bristol Cancer Care Centre, a complimentary healthcare centre that supports the more mainstream treatments. To raise these much needed funds, some close friends and colleagues have bared all in a calendar girls style photo shoot featuring their tastefully positioned period instruments.

The calendar costs £12.50 inc postage and packing, £10 of which will go directly to Katy Lees. Please click here if you would like to order a copy of the calendar and pay on-line by credit or debit card.

Please click here to contact Tom Hammond by email if you have any further questions.