UPDATE:

Hi all - thank you so much for your support and sponsorship.

Belatedly, I wanted to confirm that I finished! The race took me 5hrs 28 Mins and I'm extraordinarily happy that I've done it (and that it's over)! It was a perfect day for running and I was lucky enough to have lots of family and friends support me along the way. Sophie even ran part of the end with me to keep me going!

Thank you again for all your support and encouragement - it really meant and means a lot.

Cheers,
Duncan

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Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. (There are more details about donating at the bottom...)

For the last couple of months I've been training to run my first marathon. The race is the Marine Corp Marathon (www.marinemarathon.com) on 31st October - Halloween - in Washington DC. So just around the corner!

I think I'm the first Burns family member to run one. (Apologies if I'm not!) and I’m pretty definite that this is my first and last marathon!

Very kindly a lot of people have asked whether I was raising any money for charity as part of my run. The answer is yes, and though I know you probably get asked to sponsor people all the time, if you feel able to sponsor me even a little bit it’ll be very welcome.

While running in the footsteps of Pheidippides 2,500 years ago, I'd also like to raise any money I can for The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (www.papaa.org).

Psoriasis is a cause close to my heart, one that has affected me and others I know for several years - and one that affects 2-3% of the population, but which not many people know about. There is currently no cure for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis and so this charity helps give support and information to people with psoriasis and tries to make people as comfortable as possible with this long-term condition. You probably know a few people who suffer, perhaps without even realizing. Two famous examples are the playwright Dennis Potter who died from complications from his PA and the golfer Phil Mickelson.

And if you need another reason…October 29 is World Psoriasis Day so it’s clearly just meant to be!

I know this isn’t the most glamorous of charities, but its work is no less valuable to the people it helps. If you’re able to spare a little, I hope you’ll consider it. But please don’t feel obliged just because I’ve asked you.

I'm not 100% sure why I’m running this race, but part of it's about rising to the challenge and part of it is about doing a little bit to help others too.

I'd be very grateful for whatever sponsorship you feel able to spare. 

Thanks for your support,

Duncan

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