So after a couple of years off for good behaviour I’ve decided to have one last go at doing the London Marathon before I am finally too old and decrepit. (What do you mean too late?) Two years is long enough a gap to forget how cold and wet and unpleasant training through the winter months can be, but not long enough to forget that any money I was lucky enough to raise will be going to a really good cause.

 

The London Marathon is a great event for fund raising and for raising public awareness for all charities, however sometimes the smaller local charities can be overlooked. Large charities purchase marathon places and then allocate these places to runners as Golden Bond places. As the charity purchases these places most ask the runner to pledge a minimum sum of around £2000. Many smaller charities cannot afford to purchase Golden Bond places on behalf of runners and so miss out on the fund raising potential of the London Marathon. As I was lucky enough to get my place through the ballot this year I am able to give my support again to a small but extremely valuable charity local to me; The Sussex Snowdrop Trust.

 

The Sussex Snowdrop Trust is a charity dedicated to supporting children with a life threatening or terminal illness. 'Snowdrop' helps families cope with the day-to-day problems of caring for a very sick child by providing nursing, emotional and financial support; at home ........surely, the best place to be. It is a charity familiar to me for many reasons and I personally know three families who have benefited greatly from their support and assistance at this difficult time. As a parent I appreciate how lucky I am with my children and how difficult it must be for parents and other family members to be in that situation.  I am lucky then to be able to do something, however small, to try and help.

Many of my friends and families were very generous in their donations and support in previous years. I am extremely grateful to everyone, if you do feel you can make a contribution again this year it will mean so much to The Sussex Snowdrop Trust and the children and families they support.

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 Sussex Snowdrop Trust and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.

Thank you so much in anticipation. Any donation you feel able to give will be gratefully received.

Simon