Following our training and fundraising journey here...https://nice-cup-of-tea.livejournal.com/tag/marathon

We have a long history of running together! We did London in 2001 for Oxfam and New York in 2014, and now it's back to London again. Will our back and knees and muscles make it? 

Helen is running for her Mum Pauline, who is with us in body, if not in mind. We miss her. She lives on in our stories and memories of her. Pauline has lived an amazing life. Her Guiding name was Wren - "a small bird with a very loud voice" - which just about sums her up! She spent her life in service  - as a Guider, Primary School Teacher, Musician, Bell ringer, amongst other roles! She travelled the world, loved meeting people, lived on a barge with Martin, and had friends everywhere! 

Sal was thrilled to win a ballot place for the London Marathon in 2023. This "rare as hen's teeth" email, with the yes to the ballot place, came when she was still couch bound, following the fun of some major heart surgery in September. As a witty New York supporter once wrote: "It's a long way for a free banana" and so she decided to join Helen in running London for Alzheimers Research UK (ARUK). Sal says: "My Grandfather had Alzheimer's and it was terrible to see the dissolution of that mind, those memories and I was desperately sad to hear of Helen's Mum also suffering from that awful disease. Pauline is a magnificent woman, part of my extended family and maker of our rather superb Scuba Divers' wedding cake. We run this for her."

We really hope that this is the last marathon sponsorship request from us... we aren't planning on doing another one... honest! :-)