Hi All,

I am excited to share that I will be participating in a half marathon! On Sunday the 7th April, I will be running 13.1 miles to challenge myself and raise funds for an incredible cause.

I have chosen to dedicate my run to Shay's Smiles. This charity was set up by the family of 13-year-old Shayen Patel (known to all as Shay), who passed away on 1st September 2020. Shay died less than two years after being diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). Shay was the cousin of my close friend Emma Sainty. She has shared many stories of the ways in which Shay touched people's hearts. Despite Shay's diagnosis he was always thinking of others before himself and had the most contagious smile and warm heart for everyone he met.

By supporting me in this half marathon, you will be contributing to the incredible efforts of Shay's family and making a real difference in the lives of those in need. Shay's smiles has committed to fund a PhD student over a four-year period at a cost of £143,657, working within the team at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), developing new treatment strategies to inhibit the progression of GBM brain tumours.

Every donation, no matter the size, will go a long way in helping me reach my fundraising goal and, more importantly, in supporting this important cause. To contribute, please visit my fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising-edit/drmariewinter. Your donation will be greatly appreciated and will serve as a powerful motivator as I train and prepare for the race.

Thank you in advance for your support and encouragement. Together, we can make a positive impact and bring hope to those suffering from GBM brain tumours. I will be sure to keep you updated on my training progress and the impact of your generosity.

Thank you!
Marie

P.S. Please feel free to share this with anyone else who might be interested in supporting this cause! Every little bit helps, and together, we can make a big difference. 

(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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.)