Anyone who has known me for any length of time will know that I DO NOT RUN.  It is not dignified and is never necessary!  And yet here we are!  A few short months after admitting to a mid-life crisis and gaining a new addiction to running, I have signed up to take part in the Reading Half Marathon.

Of course, I am doing this to prove I'm not old... unfit... or generally past it... but more importantly, I'm doing it to raise money for a fantastic charity I have been volunteering with for a long time.  The Morning Star Trust.

The Morning Star Trust provide a unique environment using offshore sailing vessels to enable young people and vulnerable young adults to interact with others, to learn about the world they live in and most importantly, to learn about themselves.  The challenges, risks and rewards of sailing offshore are intense and real.  On a small boat at sea, participants have no choice but to live and work together, to communicate, overcome difficulties and to take responsibility.  Perhaps for the first time in their lives, participants learn that they have value.  That they can be successful and realise that their efforts can achieve something remarkable.

Sailing is traditionally an expensive activity and Morning Star Trust are keen to make this experience available to as many people as possible!  To do this, all young people's trips are heavily subsidised by the Trust, funded by donations from people like us.  For those young people who really have it tough, the trust runs a bursery scheme so even those with the very least, can still be participants on these trips and benefit from all the experience will bring.

I am intending to run this race in 1 hour 50 minutes.  I will have to run my heart out to achieve this and will have to train throughout these cold winter months!  If you are able, please donate as much as you are able to help fund as many young people's trips as we can!

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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thanks
Pete