Story
<p><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">I'm running the London 2012 Marathon in memory of my Dad and I'd be so very grateful for any donations however small (we are in a recession after all!) for my chosen charity Sparks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">As you will know, I'm not a runner. I have no finesse and I run like a ballerina. But I'm determined. I ran the Chicago marathon last year and now it’s all about London. And London is particularly special to me because of my Dad.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">My dad (Nip) ran the London Marathon in 1992 and despite having more physical challenges than most he completed it and all the way around smiled. I remember as a little girl the proud feeling I had when he came home with his medal and the banner I had made ready to congratulate him. It took me all day to make it and I had absolute faith he'd finish it!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">As children, Chantel and I used to run with dad up the oak tree (our favourite tree in the village). Rain, snow you name it - we'd run there with dad when he was training for the Marathon. And somehow Dad always made it fun.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">We lost dad in 2009 and I know he’d be so proud of his Dandy Lion running a marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only started to get into running just before we lost dad, but he did see me run the Bath Half Marathon and we all had a good cry at the end. If only he could see me now. Hopefully he can.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">So the London Marathon for me will be like doing lots of runs to the oak tree and back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks for your support and kind donations.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br>Dani / Lizer / Dandy Lion x</span></p>
