Adam's marathon page
Adam Newey is raising money for Diabetes UK
Story
Over there, if I've managed to do this right, there should be a picture of Flora. For those who are interested in such things, she's skipping on Mount Caburn in Sussex, which is where Elsie Piddock goes skipping with the fairies in the Eleanor Farjeon story. Anyway, it's all Flora's fault that I'm doing this marathon. There we were last April, watching the runners go past the end of our street, as we do every year. (Well, she's called Flora, there are big banners up that say 'Flora London Marathon'. Naturally, she thinks she owns it.) 'Daddy,' she said as we watched yet another bloke stagger past in a rhinoceros suit, 'next year I want you to run.'
Ah, the innocence of youth! All you have to do is say the thing and it shall be so. Of course I laughed the whole idea off. I am not, as most of you will know, one of life's natural marathon runners (though I admit I was rather touched by her blind faith in me). She, however, would not let it go. All that day, and the next, and the next ... until in the end I started to think, well ... why not?
Why not? Why not??? There are 26.2 reasons why not, each one more gruelling than the last. There's the dead-of-winter, long-before-dawn rising, to heave my leaden limbs through rain-drenched streets. There are the aching muscles, the stiff knees, the stench of Deep Heat, the cold thought of Lycra ...
Well, as you see, in the end I gave in (though I did firmly draw the line at the rhinoceros suit). And, since I'm putting myself through this strange hell, I thought I may as well try to raise some money for a worthwhile cause. And who could possibly be more worthwhile than people with diabetes? You see, this isn't a terribly altruistic gesture: I'm raising money for me and the rest of the pancreatically challenged (and for Flora of course -- I'd feel hellishly guilty if, by any chance, I've landed her with the dodgy gene or genes that might play a part in getting diabetes. Apart from which, she'd probably sue me). So go on, dig deep, sponsor me, you know you want to. Any donation, however enormous, is truly welcome. And remember, it isn't going to hurt you anything like much as it's going to hurt me. If you're in London on the big day and want to wave at me as I lurch past, that would be nice too. Though obviously not as nice as the money.
Ah, here comes the pre-set text: 'Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Diabetes UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.' Cheers, Gordon.
Many thanks for your support!
Adam
Ah, the innocence of youth! All you have to do is say the thing and it shall be so. Of course I laughed the whole idea off. I am not, as most of you will know, one of life's natural marathon runners (though I admit I was rather touched by her blind faith in me). She, however, would not let it go. All that day, and the next, and the next ... until in the end I started to think, well ... why not?
Why not? Why not??? There are 26.2 reasons why not, each one more gruelling than the last. There's the dead-of-winter, long-before-dawn rising, to heave my leaden limbs through rain-drenched streets. There are the aching muscles, the stiff knees, the stench of Deep Heat, the cold thought of Lycra ...
Well, as you see, in the end I gave in (though I did firmly draw the line at the rhinoceros suit). And, since I'm putting myself through this strange hell, I thought I may as well try to raise some money for a worthwhile cause. And who could possibly be more worthwhile than people with diabetes? You see, this isn't a terribly altruistic gesture: I'm raising money for me and the rest of the pancreatically challenged (and for Flora of course -- I'd feel hellishly guilty if, by any chance, I've landed her with the dodgy gene or genes that might play a part in getting diabetes. Apart from which, she'd probably sue me). So go on, dig deep, sponsor me, you know you want to. Any donation, however enormous, is truly welcome. And remember, it isn't going to hurt you anything like much as it's going to hurt me. If you're in London on the big day and want to wave at me as I lurch past, that would be nice too. Though obviously not as nice as the money.
Ah, here comes the pre-set text: 'Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Diabetes UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.' Cheers, Gordon.
Many thanks for your support!
Adam