Just over a year ago, we lost a beautiful friend, Sophie, to Cancer.  In her memory we'll be running the Berlin half marathon on Sunday 3rd April 2011 and would really appreciate your support and donations to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

 

Macmillan Cancer Support were one of her favourite charities, and they do amazing work to support and care for people living with cancer, so we'd like to raise as much as we can for this fantastic charity. The stats are phenominal - 1 in 3 people will suffer from cancer, and by default everybody will be affected by it at some point in their lives.  

 

Marie: "Running 13 miles (!!!) is completely unachievable for me, so worthy of what I hope will be some generous donations. I've been training in the gym and worked myself up to 4 1/2 miles, but unfortunately only attempted outdoor running 2 weeks ago, and found out that this is very different - turns out 4.5 miles in the gym only equates to 2 outside!!!  (eek).  With only a month to go, I've had lots of disbelief and laughing from friends and work colleagues, but with help from my health and fitness personal trainer Emma, and the fear of embarassment if I don't make it, I'm confident I can still do it!!  I've no doubt that Emma will be able to achieve it - she's ridiculously fit!!

 

So far, from my training I've learnt that running the morning after a curry is a bad idea and can make you sick (I wasn't, but nearly...) and that black guys with gold teeth and chains to match will jump in your way and impersonate your running technique if you run in Harlesden-I'll update you with more tips as and when I get them!!"

 

Emma: "When Marie told me she'd wanted to run a half marathon I was a little surprised (this news coming from the girl who thinks a pack of skittles accounts for her whole 'five a day'). Still I know when Marie puts her mind to something, she'll do it and I'm a sucker for physical punishment (I also signed up for the Fleet half-marathon 2 weeks prior to this one!) so the plan was formed.

 

I'm slightly diappointed I haven't encountered the same running partners as Marie; the Surrey crowd are a more sophisticated bunch (well that's why I live there right, hehe). I have spent many a hour pounding the streets of Camberley in training (though Marie's estimation of my fitness is somewhat deluded!), still I'm hoping I can drag my ass round Berlin in under 2 hours. I've been running for a few years now and it's a great release. It's great to ponder over things (mostly about the pain in my ass and the chocolate waiting for me at home when I finish!) but also reflect and I've spent moments of my runs thinking about Soph, and her courage, strength and beautiful nature have been so inspiring to me, not just for running but for everything in life :) "

 

We really appreciate your support and any donation you can afford to give for this fantastic charity is hugely apreciated!!  

 

To see what amazing work Macmillan Cancer Support do, and what your donations will actually be used for, please visit their site here:

 

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx

 

Thanks!

Emma & Marie  xxx