Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On the 3rd April 2011, I shall be competing in the inaugural Sussex Marathon. This will be the third marathon I have run. As you may know, preparing for a marathon can be pretty ardous with aches and pains aplenty.

I am raising money for a very worthy charity, Combat Stress and, with the help of my friends and colleagues in the Caerphilly Round Table, I am hoping to be able to make a chunky contribution to the Combat Stress funds.

Compared with what the guys and girls of HM Armed Forces are faced with, on a day-to-day basis, a marathon is pretty easy. Please check out the Combat Stress website for details on how your donation will help our servicemen and women :

http://www.combatstress.org.uk/ 

Why Combat Stress exists 

Combat Stress is the UK's leading military charity specialising in the care of Veterans' mental health.

We look after men and women who are suffering from a psychological condition related to their Service career. This might be depression, anxiety, a phobia or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Our services are free of charge to the Veteran.

Since 2005 the number of ex-Service men and women seeking our help has risen by 72%. We have a current caseload of more than 4,400 individuals – including 102 Afghanistan and 400 Iraq Veterans.

In March 2010 our Patron HRH The Prince of Wales launched The Enemy Within Appeal on behalf of Combat Stress. 

This £30 million, three-year fundraising campaign is designed to help us treat the escalating number of psychologically injured Veterans who are turning to us for help, by:

• Establishing 14 Community Outreach teams nationwide
  
  
• Enhancing clinical treatment at our three short-stay treatment centres

Knowing that I am helping, in a small way, to contribute towards the fantastic work being done by Combat Stress,on behalf our our servicemen and women, makes all of the training I am doing seem all the more worthwhile.

I ask you therefore to dig deep for whatever you can in aid of a very worthy cause.

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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank You

Andrew Russell