Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Well I did it! It was tougher than I'd expected but completed the course in 5hrs 31 mins and I managed to keep running all the way round.  Thanks for everyone who had the faith to donate before I ran the event - no excuse now for the doubters!  Again thanks for all the support and for doing our bit to support an incredibly important charity.  John x

I ran the London Marathon in April 2010 for Amnesty International. Why the running and why Amnesty International?  Well the common link is my son George. George loved running and as a 16 year old said he'd love to run in the London marathon which had also been a dream of mine. Tragically George died in July 2008 from a brain tumour and so he never had the chance to run the marathon but I did have that opportunity and I it was quite emotional thinking about George as I pushed myself in those last few miles. 

I applied for a charity place with Amnesty International for two main reasons. First, it does vital work in fighting for human rights across the world, whether it's women jailed in Iran for spurious crimes or innocent people jailed for highlighting injustices in their own countries. Amnesty does not have a political affiliation. It defends human rights wherever they are under threat from whatever political system. Second, George was a member of Amnesty, it is an organisation he actively supported and donated to and I feel sure that it is a cause he would have run for in the marathon given a chance. 

I have to raise at least £1800 but I would love to raise a whole lot more both to help this important charity and as a testament to George, who always thought of others and considered it as vital that all people should enjoy the same human rights wherever they lived. 

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.

   So please dig deep and donate now.