In September 2010 I will have been living in Berlin for ten years, helping to run the Buddhist Gate Berlin, home of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO) in Berlin. Since 2004 I have been the Chairman of the charity responsible for running the centre. We recently signed a contract to buy new premises, which we hope to move into around the start of 2011.

To mark my tenth anniversary of living in the city I'm going to run the 2010 Berlin marathon, and at the same time help raise funds towards the cost of the new Buddhist Gate Berlin. Being supported on a basic income, means I don't have the means to donate large sums myself, so I am asking people to consider giving to this worthwhile project, that will enable the FWBO to be more effective in making the teaching of the Buddha available to more, and enabling them to find significance and meaning in their lives.

Follow my blog as I train for the big day in September: http://runningforbuddha.blogspot.com/

After establishing a small presence in the city in the 1980s the FWBO in Berlin moved into rented premises in 1998. Since then these rented rooms have become too small, and after a four-year long search, we found suitable larger premises to buy.

The move to a new and larger centre will enable us to spread the Dharma (the teaching of the Buddha) to many more people and to give our Sangha (spiritual community) a suitable home to grow into. In time we will also be able to diversify and extend our programme. The FWBO system of practise offers many methods to help people to develop and fulfil their potential, including for example, meditation, Dharma study, devotional activities and spiritual friendship, as well as the arts, team-based right livelihood businesses, and retreats.

The new Buddhist Gate Berlin will be a focus for those wanting to discover, explore and put into practise the teachings of the Buddha in the context of living in a modern city in western Europe, at a time when the need for meaning and values in our lives is so acute. The centre will therefore be open as often as possible for visitors, who will be able to make use of resources such as the meditation rooms and the library, or who may simply want to drop by for an informal chat and a cup of coffee.

The premises are part of a local initiative involving the redevelopment of a former hospital consisting of fourteen buildings into apartments and business premises. Situated in Berlin-Kreuzberg, a central, lively area of the city, well served by public transport and close to the attractive Landwehr canal, the centre will easily integrate into the local community.

The new centre will cost around €890,000, of which €400,000 has already been donated. If we were to raise the rest of the money before we move in, we will be able to start our work in the new centre in 2011 free of debt and therefore be able to devote all our energies to helping people to learn about, and to practise the teachings of the Buddha.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please consider sponsoring me now.