Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Raising funds for BASIC means a great deal to me.  It is a charity which provides counselling, information and support services for patients and their families following a brain/spinal injury or condition.  

As many of you know I became aware of the importance of such a facility when back in 1987 I was diagnosed with a neurological condition known as a Chiari Malformation.  As is common following the treatment of this condition I subsequently developed hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) and was fitted with a shunt.  I was very fortunate to be referred to Mr Richard Cowie, a neurosurgeon at Hope Hospital.  Under his care and that of his team I made a great recovery.  I do occasionally still have to pay him a visit whenever I require revision work to the shunt but I have been extremely lucky and in the last 23 years this has only happened twice.

BASIC is affiliated to the Greater Manchester Clinical Neuroscience Centre and works in close collaboration with the staff there to meet the needs of patients within the community.  Fund-raising accounts for 90% of the money raised for BASIC so your donation really means something to them and makes a valuable difference. 

I have recently reached 19 miles in my training for the Paris Marathon, the flights and accommodation are booked and I am now starting to see the finish line on Avenue Foch.  I have another mile to add this weekend.  I am taking part in the Wilmslow Half Marathon on 28.03.10 and then I get two weeks of taper down (I cannot wait!) before the big day.

In the meantime, my social life is in tatters - I haven't had a good night out (for that read p**s-up) since Christmas - and my song of the moment is I Don't Want To Go Out by Nerina Pallot.

So please, please give generously.  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.

With a very big THANK YOU,

Amanda

22/03/10

I did my last long training run yesterday - 20.6 miles - and celebrated with a couple of glasses of bubbley.  I am now a 'Woman on a Mission' - see My Video.

Eddie Izzard you are my inspiration!

I am looking forward to the Wilmslow Half next Sunday and then it is taper down to the big day - hurraah!!!!

 

08/04/10

Today is my last day in the office.  We fly out to Paris tomorrow and I am really looking forward to the weekend.  

I will carry with me your good luck messages and the thought of how much money we have jointly raised for BASIC.  

The race starts at 8.45am on Sunday (French time).  The roads of Paris re-open 5 hours 40 mins later.  Fingers crossed I will be over the finish line before then!

Thank you so much for your support.  

Amanda xx

09/04/10

The marathon is being shown live on Eurosport UK at 7.45am.  My bib no is 41774.  If I can run it you can watch it!!

13/04/10

 

I am now back at my desk after a fantastic weekend in Paris. I am knackered and my legs are sore but I had a great run in an official chip time of 4:25:02. 

 As Richard Peel forewarned the last 10K were the worst and thinking of all your kind words and donations to my charity really helped to keep me going. 

 I will never forget the feeling I had when I rounded the corner at the top of Avenue Foch and saw the finish line.  It was amazing!!

 So a very big thank you to you all.

Amanda xx