Hi all!  Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 

A couple of months back (over a few too many pints at the pub) I agreed to accompany a friend in competing in a triathlon this summer to raise money for a homeless charity.  So here I am, a couple of weeks to go, many weeks behind in my training and a few hundred pounds (dollars for the Canadians) short in my frundraising - that's where you come in!

 

As many of your know, I've been living in London this past year.  London, if you haven't been, is an incredible city.  It's got the best of the best so far as many things are concerned (arts, food, culture and shopping), but also hosts some of the most impoverished neighbourhoods in the whole of the UK.  'So what?' you say.  "Why should I donate my hard earned money to some homeless charity...in the UK at that?'  Well, first off, your support means a lot to me.  I've endeavoured to do this crazy thing and your gesture (albeit financial at that) will provide me with the motivation to push myself at those many times in the race when my body will be screaming 'NO!'  Secondly, it's good karma.  :) While this may not apply to most of your receiving this request (Interesting Fact #1) some social scientists have recently speculated that 30% of the population is just 48 hours away from homelessness.  In these turbulent times, losing one's job, suffering a freak accident or experiencing a major natural disaster are a reality that any one of us could face.  So really, this is just a small investment, kind of like insurance, to protect yoruself from this tragedy in future.  Lastly and most seriously, this organization does some really good work and it hits close to home.  Most of you know that I've spent the past two years working in education with 'youth at risk'. Along the way, I've encountered a number of young people who've experienced homelessness firsthand and given the circumstances under which they've adoped their at-risk thoughts/behaviour (a lack of resources, education and the presence of mental health issues and/or addiction) the likelihood that they'll face this at one point or another in the future is very real.  I'd like to think there are well equipped organizations out there to catch them when they fall, St. Mungo's being one of them.

 

If my waffling hasn't convinced you yet, check out the website below for more of the wonderful things St. Mungo's do. 

http://www.mungos.org/

 

Again, your support is greatly appreciated.  I'll keep everyone updated on my training leading up to the event and my results afterwards.

 

Jasmin