Following on from my 5km efforts last year (many thanks if you sponsored me then!), I decided that I should raise the stakes for this year's challenge in aid of HCPT Group 170. Our trip to Lourdes at Easter 2018 will be Group 170's 10th pilgrimage, so what better than to mark ten years with ten miles?!

Having convinced myself that I can cover the distance in a reasonable time, I have entered the Great South Run main 10 mile event! I'm certainly not promising to run the distance - my knees and ankles won't stand for it - but I'm confident that I can get round in well under three hours - maybe under two-and-a-half if one of my supporters is to be believed!

Why am I doing this? I'm doing it to try and raise as much money as I can to contribute towards taking a group of disabled and disadvantaged children to Lourdes in France for the holiday of a lifetime.

It costs around £1000 to take a child on the HCPT Easter trip... As well as transport to the airport, flights to Lourdes and hotel accommodation, the money raised pays for outings to places like the zoo or aquarium during the week, café visits and activities and equipment to entertain the children - to say nothing of the amazing parties we have!

And it is worth every penny... The trip is so much more than a holiday for the children; for many of them the trip is the first time they have been away from their families and is a chance to grow in confidence and experience new things while giving some respite to their families who are safe in the knowledge that Group 170 are taking brilliant care of their children. I can't begin to describe the experience in this limited space - so go to our website and see for yourself what we got up to in 2017 http://www.group170.org.uk/index.html and check out our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HCPTGroup170 - or come and talk to me about it.

If you are able to, please sponsor me and help to send a child to Lourdes with HCPT Group 170 next Easter. Every little helps as they say, so please give whatever you can; and don't forget to Gift Aid your donation if you are eligible to do so...

Thanks very much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
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