Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Why am I running a 1/2 marathon?

 

Why run for WBNA?

Last summer I played in a cricket match to raise funds for the West Berkshire Neurological Alliance. After the game I spoke with their representative who told me all about her son. He was a similar age to me and it made me feel how lucky I am for my health. We all are.

 

What does the WBNA do?

The Alliance identified the need for more local hydrotherapy services, to help neurology patients affected by pain, restricted mobility and related problems. It spent around £17k investigating the need for and developing a business plan for a hydrotherapy pool for West Berkshire. For every neurology client treated, a successful hydrotherapy pool will also help five others, such as those with rheumatism, arthritis, sporting injuries, those recovering from surgery, pregnant ladies, those with learning disabilities and more. Leading a consortium of other interested groups we helped to create a Social Enterprise now driving a £1.5 million project to build a pool, with offers of support on the table already amounting to around £1 million. The Alliance is aiming to help find the remaining £0.5 million, to support and enable completion of this major community project.

 

Annual running costs for the organisation (other than specific events such as conferences) are around £2,000, so one might can say that a donation of £20 plus associated Gift Aid actually pays for the running of the entire charity for about five days.

• -Organise a nationally recognised conference every two years based around a different neurological theme
• -Provide information for sufferers from neurological conditions
• -Arrange regular open meetings on neurological themes
• -Monitor NHS spending on neurology and compare it with claims that are being made and the requirements of the National Service Framework
• -Lobby various parts of the NHS and political entities to raise the profile of neurology when plans are being formulated
• -Raise funds for specific projects e.g. persuading the local PCT to create the post of a specialist neurological nurse by raising funds for the first two years' salary.

 

How much effort am I putting in?

Normally I run in 10k (6.2 miles) races and that is as far as I normally go. A half marathon is double this distance as it is 13.1 miles. I have never ran a half marathon so I'm not sure I can do it, the furthest I ever ran was 8 miles.  However, knowing that someone will also benefit will spur me on. I hate to let people down.

 

What can you do?

1.Sponsor me :)

OR

Take part in fundraising events for this cause yourself.

 

WBNA has only just registered with justgiving.com .  I suggested that they register and their Treasurer, David Woodhead has been supportive in making this happen so that money can be raised for something so worthwhile. 

 

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 donate if you can and forward the link to this page to all of your mates.

Thank you

Paul :)