I am running on behalf of a new charity with which I am involved, the Jane Bubear Sport Foundation (www.janebubearsport.co.uk - charity reference no.1126543).  It was set up, in  particular, to support young people in communities under challenge by the provision of customised sports kit -  though it supports other good causes as well.   In its first year of operation it has provided sports kit to schools in Ghana,  Kenya,  Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and provided football boots to new Liberian third division side Millwall FC Monrovia and worked with Millwall FC to supply the Millwall 08/.09 reserve team strip to the team.   The charity recognises it has not remotely scratched the surface of what is possible in terms of giving young people a real boost through the provision at a low cost of something many of us in the United Kingdom might take for granted.  £75 can be enough to provide football kit for another school team, so please give generously to enable the Jane Bubear Sports Foundation to extend its reach in 2010 and beyond.

The larger NGOs and charities quite rightly focus on sustaining communities in need with basic provisions upon which life depends – food, water and shelter. The Foundation seeks to do something much less critical, but nevertheless to provide a real boost to young people by providing sports kit and equipment which may not otherwise be a realistic possibility for the young people in areas of need. Whilst the Foundation has only the resources to provide such opportunities to a limited number of people at present, it is clear that even the smallest amount of help can make a big difference to the individual recipients

Please sponsor me now!

PS:

For technical reasons beyond my control (torn cartilage from poor waterskiing) the Las Vegas Marathon 2009 has been postponed (for me that is) until 2010 (donations nonetheless gratefully accepted!).   However a special Jane Bubear Sport Foundation 10k race is being organised for Spring 2010. Please keep a look out on www.janebubear.co.uk for details