I am hoping to run the Belfast marathon, this will be my first ever marathon (longest so far is a half-marathon!) and it will be in aid of two amazing and deserving charities: Save the Children and Action Cancer.

1) Save the Children in Northern Ireland is Ernst & Young Belfast's charity of the Year:

From the Save the Children in Northern Ireland website: We've been working in Northern Ireland since the 1950s. Initially we provided a range of services to families and children, including playgroups and after-school clubs in the poorest and most marginalised communities. Since the early 1990s, we've been helping local groups to provide these services themselves.

We carry out research and lobby on behalf of all children in the region. Our work is particularly focused on supporting children who live with poverty. We actively involve young people in all our work. We also work in partnership with small community groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), public bodies and government departments.

Northern Ireland has the youngest population of any region in the UK: 27% of residents are under 18 years of age. It's also one of the poorest regions in the European Union, with more than a third of all children living in poverty.

2) Action Cancer: I have supported this EY client for many years, largely because it is the only NI-specific cancer charity. It was established in 1973 by cancer specialist . His vision for the future was that people in Northern Ireland would be free from the risk of cancer. At Action Cancer today they carry on the fight for freedom from cancer and maintain a pioneering role in the development of cancer services.

Action Cancer works right across Northern Ireland providing: Early detection services for the Northern Ireland community; Counselling and support services for cancer patients and their families; Research at local universities; Cancer prevention; and Health promotion. 

So why a marathon?

In September 2009 I suffered a severe nearly fatal allergic reaction when I was out running, due to a condition known as Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis, thanks to the amazing staff at A&E Antrim Hospital I am here to tell the tale! I now have to take preventative medication and carry adrenaline when I run but I continue to run, mainly because I love it so much (well the sanity that comes with getting away for an hour with the iPod!) but also because I want to support the amazing work of the above two charities and fund-raising is the only support I can give at the moment.

E&Y will match-fund all donations, therefore sponsorship on this page will go directly to Action Cancer, I will pay all received donations via debit card on this page, thus direct to Action Cancer and therefore will send my match-fund  cheque to Save the Children.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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 dig deep and donate now.  All my thanks, Shaz x

PS if any of you wish to join me please let me know and I can add you to my fundraising page :-)