[[[[[[[[ UPDATE: So, I ran the marathon and came in under my target time - by a cool 21 seconds in fact: http://bit.ly/XPhbEe

It was a brilliant day. The support out on the course was incredible. I didn't expect that at all - so many people all the way along the route.

Most importantly though, I've hit my fundraising target for Mencap and that would not have been possible without the generosity of family, friends, colleagues and strangers.

So thanks to everyone who supported me along the way! ]]]]]]]]]]

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Thanks for visiting my fundraising page. I’m running the London marathon this year for Mencap, the charity that supports people with a learning disability.

It'll be my first time to run a marathon - and to make the challenge that little bit tougher so it's extra-worthy of your support I'm setting a target time of 3 and 1/2 hours (fingers crossed!)

I have a personal connection to Mencap’s cause. My nephew Gus has a learning disability. He is the most happy, loveable boy you could ever meet, but he is also vulnerable and needs help and support.

Gus lives in NZ, far away, but here in the UK there are around 1.5 million people with a learning disability who need support. Mencap works to do just that:  either through the services they provide, or through their campaigns to challenge prejudices, change laws, and improve public services, Mencap aims to help people with a learning disability live as independently as possible.

The sad truth is that many people with learning disabilities are still subject to prejudice - and are treated poorly by our public services. In fact, 8 out of 10 people with a learning disability will face some sort of bullying or abuse in their lifetime. Even more cases go unreported because people are too afraid to speak out.

So your donations will help Mencap to continue the good work they do, such as their campaign to ensure people with a learning disability are treated equally by the NHS (Death by Indifference) or their their battle to have disability hate crime taken seriously by the authorities (Stand by Me).

Where might your money go? Well ... £15 could pay for a helpline adviser to answer two calls from victims of disability hate crime who need Mencap's help ... £22 could pay for a session where Mencap support workers can discuss the best way to help someone who has been attacked in their community ...  or £35 could pay for a campaigns officer to spend two hours with someone who has been victimised.

So if you could help me towards my fundraising target, I would be very grateful.

To learn more about what Mencap does, please read some of these articles:
Disability hate crime: Five years on from Fiona Pilkington
Police are failing people with learning disabilities, says study
NHS accused over deaths of disabled patients
The NHS must accelerate its reforms on treating learning disabled patients

Or visit their website here.

Thanks for reading. Please give generously.