I've just realised the last time I wrote my blog was on 26th May 2008, four days before my father (aged 55) suddenly passed away, which I why I haven't felt the inclination to write anything since.

I should start by saying this entry, and probably the next few, are likely to be rambling and disjointed. I have a lot to say in my head and not sure at the moment how it is going to come out.

The reason for writing an entry now is because of my decision to take part in the 3 peaks challenge in May to try to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK. I had received the information a while back and hadn't really given it much thought as it's the kind of thing you do if you're really fit, which I'm not. It involves climbing Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell Pike (England) and Snowdon (Wales), the highest peaks in their respective countries within 24 hours. Now, I've been quizzed on this and can confirm that the challenge is to complete the peaks in the same 24 hours. We start at the base of Ben Nevis at dawn on the 30th May 2009 and aim to be at the summit of Snowdon by dawn on the 31st May. This will include coming down Scafell Pike and climbing up Snowdon in the dark. Quite a challenge and not something I would normally dream of doing, but when I realised the date of the challenge, exactly 12 months after my Dad died, I signed up.

It's utter madness for someone who usually spends his spare time smoking Richmonds and playing xbox live ... and I only have 3 months to get into shape, but I think it's a fitting way to commemorate the anniversary, do something positive and try to raise some cash for Bowel Cancer UK.

People obviously assume my father died of bowel cancer. This isn't the case. He was diagnosed with the disease in the autumn of 2007, had his operation shortly after and then completed 6 months chemotherapy. He stayed positive throughout his treatment and was made up to be accepted onto a programme for a trial drug which he had fortnightly, inbetween his chemo. He was determined to beat it, and that's exactly what he did. Having completed his treatment on the Tuesday I spoke to him on the Wednesday and he was over the moon with having got through this difficult time. I can honestly say his outlook had changed since initially being diagnosed. He was looking forward to flying to Spain on the Saturday to get some sun on his back and was busy making plans to live for the moment and do all the things he'd put off in life. Gemma & I had got engaged in December 07 and he had been up to Scotland during his treatment and visited the venue and was really excited about being involved in the wedding (and the stag do ... he was looking forward to doing the cooking and already planning the menus for me and the lads).

On the Thursday we had even better news. His results had come back and he was clear of the disease. My Dad, and the treatment, had beaten the cancer. He said he'd ring me on the Friday before he and my Mum left for a week in Spain.

I got the call on Friday but it hadn't been the one I was expecting. It was my Mum to say my father had passed away. Without wanting to go into too much detail, chemotherapy increases the chances of blood clots forming. This is exactly what happened with my Dad and having gone through all his treatment and beaten the cancer, he died suddenly of a massive pulmonary embolism. Words can not explain what a shock it was to everyone and how much he is sorely missed. I not only lost my Dad that day but a good mate.

Grief is a disorientating thing. I've felt every emotion going over the last few months from anger to sadness to guilt. In some ways, and I realise this might sound odd, but I somehow feel that I've had to step into his shoes. He was always the one who was up for a challenge, and nothing seemed to ever phase him and I was always the son who looked up to and admired him. I still do of course but his death puts certain things into perspective. There's things I've done since last May that I would never have dreamed I would have to do and some things I would never have dreamed I was capable of doing. Just reading my last blog entry for example. I remember him laughing down the phone, listening to me as I wandered drunkenly around Edinburgh explaining to him on the mobile that our film had won the awards. Since then I've had to sign his death certificate at the registrars, stand up at his funeral and say a few words, get through our first Christmas without him and do something I never imagined possible during my groom's speech at our wedding, raise a toast to my late father. Like I said, it changes your perspective on things and as I tried to explain earlier, it somehow feels I've had to step up to the plate. I don't mean replace him but do things in a manner in which he would approach and deal with them. I somehow find great comfort in that.

So yes, whilst he didn't technically die of bowel cancer, I'm positive that if he hadn't have had the disease, he'd still be here today. Hence I've signed up for the 3 peaks challenge. I have also started to write again and have started a competition whereby for a £3 donation, supporters have the chance to have their name used as a character in the book and receive a signed copy.

If you would like to find out more, please visit the following links and if you have any spare cash, I would be grateful for any donations. Thank you

www.justgiving.com/leecrompton
www.justgiving.com/leecromptonbook

I should mention that I also have a vested interest in all of this. Having been diagnosed, my Dad was extremely keen for me to get checked out myself. It just so happened that my colonoscopy came within weeks of him passing away. I came out of the hospital in tears, just knowing that this had where it had all started for my Dad. My results have shown that I have a tendency to develop hyperplastic polyps which in turn have a small chance of turning cancerous. I therefore now have to get checked out every 12 months and have them removed before they have chance to develop into anything else.

Bowel cancer is the 2nd biggest cause of death by cancer in the country. To find out more, please visit http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/