Ed’s note. I think we all need something to cheer us up a bit at the moment. So if you’re in possession of your eyesight and XY chromosomes, this one’s for you. Now I can’t be running these too often, but for those of you who haven’t been tempted to donate to the very worthy appeals of Marc Ollington and Paul Smith, then you have a further chance to redeem yourself. And if the young lady who is covering the distance agrees to me treating her to lunch at some point in the weeks following the marathon, I’ll match my donation to Mr Ollington of £1 per mile covered. See I’m all heart, me. The only proviso is that Ms Marchione has to be wearing the top in the photo, which looks like it might have been taken at the Brazil v Argentina game in 2006. File under abuse of position, and don’t tell the missus. What follows is basically what I call PR, but it’s the stuff sent to me in the email, and I haven’t got the time to make it read less like a press release. So the fun stops at the end of this paragraph, and the rest is the serious stuff that will hopefully persuade you to splash a little cash for Jet’s efforts this Sunday…

Jet to run marathon in Gooner kit for special day charity

Jet Marchione, of Waltham Abbey, Essex, hopes to put a smile on the faces of seriously ill young people by running the 26-mile London marathon, in her football team's colours, for national charity, the Willow Foundation.

The 25-year-old Marketing Coordinator is raising funds for the Hertfordshire based charity set up by former Arsenal goalkeeper and TV presenter, Bob Wilson, and his wife, Megs, in memory of their daughter, Anna, who died of cancer aged 31. The charity provides special days for seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds throughout the UK, and it was a serious illness that led football mad Jet to support the charity. The marathon takes place on Sunday 25 April 2010.

The Arsenal fan began training for her first marathon four years ago but was taken ill in the run up to the marathon forcing her to pull out of the big race. It took three weeks of hospital treatment, for blood poisoning and liver failure, before Jet was discharged and on the road to recovery.

"It all happened very quickly, on the Friday I was at work as usual and by Saturday morning I was in a hospital bed unable to lift my head from the pillow. With the support of my family and friends I slowly got better, albeit with a lot of set backs along the way. This year is the first time I have felt well enough to train and I feel like I need to complete the race to finish what I started four years ago. It must be my stubborn Italian background! For the first two weeks of my hospital stay I was in isolation which made for long days and even longer nights with nothing to do but listen to the sound of my drip. What kept me going was the thought of the next time I would get to watch my beloved Arsenal play. Every time my dad visited me he promised me that I would be there at the first game of the season cheering the Gunners on, and if I was lucky seeing them win!" - Jet

Jet knew about the charity through Bob Wilson's connection but it was her experience of being seriously ill and the thought of her own special day, watching her team with her dad, that made her decide to support the charity. "It really was the thought of my special day that got me through my recovery and kept me fighting throughout my illness. Now I really want to help others who are not as lucky as I am and who are going through the hardest time in their lives." - Jet

Training has been intense for Jet but she is spurred on by onlookers as she races around Lea Valley and Cheshunt. "As hard as training is I have actually enjoyed it, although I don't do cold so the snow we had over the winter was not too my liking. I plan on running the marathon in full Arsenal kit and tend to wear old Arsenal shirts when I train. I do smile if I run past a pub and get a cheer or a boo from the lads outside. When I get a clap from guys having football training on Sunday mornings it always cheers me up and carries me on for another mile! I was less happy however when a dog chased me through Waltham Cross park!" - Jet

Jet has no illusions about how difficult tackling 26-miles of London tarmac will be but hopes the thought of her friends and family spurring her on and the determination to complete a challenge set four years ago will carry her over the finish line. "I expect the race to be very hard and I am especially dreading the 18-mile mark. I know it will be worth the pain when I cross the finish line with my friends and family waiting there to carry me home." - Jet

“The marathon is a really tough challenge and one that we’re honored that Jet has chosen to take it on for the Willow Foundation. Having come through a serious illness herself she understands the charity's ethos more than most. We are touched that she wants to help others in a similar situation to that which she found herself. I wish her all the best on the day as she runs in Arsenal colours! Our greatest thanks go to her for supporting the charity and helping us to provide many more special days.” - Bob Wilson.

Jet is one of 38 runners putting themselves through the gruelling 26-mile challenge as a member of Team Willow in this year’s marathon. Following the physically and mentally exhausting challenge the runners will convene at a London hotel where they will be greeted by Bob and Megs Wilson, who will personally thank them for their dedication and support. They will also be pampered by physiotherapists and offered hot drinks and cakes as a small reward for their incredible effort.

Sponsor Jet at http://tiny.cc/Jet

The Willow Foundation is the only charity of its kind providing special days for seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds throughout the UK. To date, Willow has provided more than 5,500 special days for young people living with life-threatening conditions including cancer, motor neurone disease, cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease. Special days aim to provide young people with a break from the stress and difficult realities of diagnosis and treatment. The days offer the chance to enjoy quality time with loved ones and to create precious memories for the future. The most popular special day requests include tickets to West End shows, pop concerts and sporting events, country and city breaks, visits to health spas, driving experiences and family days out.