A bit about my chosen charity - Stonewall

For more than 20 yrs Stonewall has worked for equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain at home, at school and at work, winning an equal age of consent and repealing Section 28 as well as securing Civil Partnership. Stonewall has a number of major campaigns which include challenging homophobia in schools/colleges; promoting fair treatment of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people at work; and putting equality into practice by promoting fair treatment of Britain's 3.6 million lesbians & gays. Stonewall has a vitally important role to make sure that every lesbian, gay and bisexual person has the opportunity to fulfil their potential, to live without regret and love without fear.

A bit about me...lol)

Ive been lucky enough to complete some cool challenges over the years from the Artic to the Amazon, Kilimanjaro to Kinabalu, Ben Nevis to Borneo....and now Brighton (for the marathon).

I do plan to run the whole way and in a good time but it is reassuring to know that staggering, even crawling is permitted, basically any means necessary to cross that finish line!

So why Brighton? Well I saw the facebook appeal from Stonewall and the charity places are a bit more affordable compared to London. 

I am so grateful to Andy (Martin) and Mark (Hunt) who are acting as my support team - having me to stay the night before the race and although they dont know it yet carrying me back to Hove afterwards!! Thanks guys!

Please sponsor me if you can (and dont forget to tick the box if you are a UK taxpayer as the government add 30% to your donation as part of the giftaid scheme).

If anyone else wants to come down and support me on the day that would be great too!!

UPDATE - Feb27th

How guys/girls only 6 weeks to go now until the big day! The fundraising has been going really well thanks to your brilliant donations! Im really humbled and now only a hop,skip and a jump away from reaching the min target of £500 set by Stonewall - and in only 4weeks.

If it wasnt for justgiving doing all the arithmetic and accounting I would have to contact an excellent accountant like Dave@ www.abc-accountancy.co.uk to help me out.

Training wise - well Ive had a toe injury that's been bothering me so I was advised to take 4 weeks rest and instead have been doing  loads of cycling, yoga and swimming to maintain the cardio-vascular side of things.

Just started running again this week including a fab training day down in Brighton hosted by the race organisers. Might have to go for a cortisone injection just to ensure I make it through the last 6 weeks training and the race.

UPDATE - Mar3rd

Ok here's how it is: Injured toe not getting any better do I go and have a cortisone injection and have to rest for another week with a £160 hole in my wallet just to improve my chances of making it to the start line as well as the finish on April10th? Oh hell yeah damn right I do!

So off I trot to sunny Eastbourne to see Dr Webborn who is the medical doctor for the Paraolympic team who duly injected the big toe.

UPDATE - Mar14th  

Well folks Im back training now, albeit a bit tentatively - Im sure the daily glass of beetroot juice is helping anyway!  

The fundraising 'totaliser' with gift aid has now surpassed £600  - Im delighted at the support received - in less than 4 weeks time I'll have to justify your generousity.

UPDATE - Mar20th  

I ran the Reading half marathon today jin a time of  1:36hr finishing in the top10% out of 12,500 runners - so not too shabby.  

UPDATE - Apr8th

Well folks less than 2 days to go now before the big one on Sunday. I feel ready (enough), managing to squeeze the long distance training(18/20 miles) during the last fortnight.

FINAL UPDATE - POST RACE Apr13th

Wow that felt good to finish and in a good time (3hrs 42mins) a ranking in the top15% of runners!

It was great to run for part of the race with some of the Stonewall team and to finish strongly despite the heat (reports say it was 21c).

The crowd were amazing as were my support team (Andy & Mark) plus Dave and Si who came along to watch on the day - Thanks guys so much!

AND finally - thanks to all of you who have sponsored me and in turn helping Stonewall to continue their good work !

Over and Out Nige x