Thanks so much for visiting my JustGiving page. It is now almost 3 years since I had a nasty skiing accident which made me stop and take stock of things over the 5 months of recovery time. It made me appreciate the good things in life, my family and friends. It brought me a new job with Macmillan Cancer Support. It made me get up off my backside and take up running in January last year to the extent that I took part in my first ever 10K and Half Marathon, and now several events since. Taking on a personal challenge has made me appreciate so much more the extreme lengths that many of our supporters go to to raise money for Macmillan, and many of those people have other issues to contend with as well. My running has been thoroughly motivational and I have been spurred on to take a personal challenge to run in 20 events, covering over 201 miles. I ran in the Hereford 10K in January, Shifnal 10k February, the Silverstone Half Marathon, Scenic 6 and Bedford Oakley 20 miler in March, and to crown it all - the London Marathon in April - I completed in 5hrs, 2mins and 17 secs and felt truly inspired. In May there were 12 miles of the Malvern Ultra, the Crowle 10K, Hereford Half Marathon and London 10K. There has also been the Malvern Half Marathon in June, Bugatti Beer 10K in August. The Great North Run (Half Marathon) was a fantastic atmosphere in September. The Eastnor Mudrunner the day after my birthday, and in a new veteran category, was an experience quite like no other, completely mad! The Stroud Half Marathon in October brings the current total to 15 events covering 168 miles, and to come are the Bicester and Wheaton Aston 10ks in December... and 3 more besides t.b.c. I had hoped to complete the 20 events in 2010, but following bereavement and my husband damaging himself in a ladder accident, I have needed to reassess my priorities, so I hope you will forgive me if I extend my challenge into 2011, finishing with a second London Marathon!! This will be a great way of celebrating Macmillan's centenary year. 

As I am diminutive and wanted to stand out in the crowd I had my hair dyed Macmillan green for the London Marathon! It was also blue before that and burgundy after that! Thanks to those who supported my Grouty Goes Green campaign! Go to www.macmillan.org.uk/running to see me looking dishevelled in a video - being interviewed on 4 occasions by Macmillan after the London Marathon - I was so so inspired by the experience!!!

In December 2009 work commenced on the Macmillan Renton Unit in Hereford and it is due to be completed in early 2011. This will bring much-needed, state-of-the-art, enhanced chemotherapy services to help people living with cancer in and around Herefordshire, Powys and Monmouthshire. My fundraising target represents my commitment to this wonderful project and to Macmillan Cancer Support whose work I receive the most amazing feedback about on a daily basis. I am thrilled to be part of Macmillan's vision to help everybody affected by cancer.

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 (Hooray!) and cutting costs for the charity (Hooray again!!).

Give only what you can, any contribution of any size helps and it is so greatly appreciated by me, Macmillan and by everyone affected by cancer.

All my love and thanks,

Sarah