Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Why a 10K?

I have always exercised but never because I love it! In my earlier years it was for vanity and now its for necessity; it helps to stop me dropping down dead! Although I have always exercised I don't run, its not natural for me. I run in a strange way (bottom out, head forward, pidgeon toe) and I run slowly (lots of little steps that don't get me far).I have been training for months though to improve my speed and posture.

 I admit I have no natural talents but I do have functioning legs and lungs so running became not so much the obvious choice to raise funds as the only one! I also have to spend a long time in public without make up or heels for a 10K so thats worth sponsoring surely?

Now that I have won your heart with my equivalent to a trek up the Himalayas let me tell you why the Infant Trust.

As a member of the Soroptimists I have the priviledge of listening to presentations from many people who support various charities and activities. Always inspiring and always worthwhile but the presentation for the Infant Trust left me in tears and unable to forget the images and stories of the suffering of innocent children.  

They are a ground-breaking charity - the only UK-based organisation exclusively setting out to break the cycle of violence and abuse against small children in South Africa and to protect the most vulnerable.

The main focus of their work is to break the cycle of abuse through:

1. Working with pre-schools
   • to train the women to recognise and act on suspicions of abuse;
   • to provide a safe place for children
   • to provide a knowledgeable place for people in the communities.
2. The empowerment of women and men, working in community services, through training and awareness programmes.
3. Diversion programmes for vulnerable or potentially violent young men and/or young women, 
   • encourage and promote a different pattern to their lives through development programmes
   • work with children whose lives are disrupted by poverty, abuse, malnutrition, illness or abandonment.
   •  Hillary Clinton sums it up for me when she said in Cape Town on 8th August 2009:
     
     "I have travelled literally all over the world and when people organise themselves and are given the tools and the training to really empower themselves and their future …. and communities, that's what's lasting."
   • Wonder if she'll sponsor me?

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 dig deep and donate now.

thanks in anticipation

AJ x