Story
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A <strong>very </strong>big thank you for visiting my fundraising page for April’s Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 22 April 2012. Having participated in various running events (5Ks, 10Ks, 15Ks and now two half-marathons), and also entered numerous others in the near future (including the Reading half-marathon), my aim is to complete this in under four hours. This equals nine minute miles, with then just six minutes spare. Let’s hope a combination of the 30+ miles a week I’m running atm, the removal of alcohol from my diet, and my pretty non-existent social life, will pay off… </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On 29 December 2009, after fifteen years, I lost my beloved lurcher Hawk. My relationship with her more than echoed the saying that dogs are man's best friend! Fortunately for Hawk, no matter what issues she faced during her life, we were always able to pay for her to have the very best medical care whenever she needed it and, when her time had come, due to both the expertise and compassion of our vet, her suffering was short and her pain minimal. Sadly, this cannot be said for all pets. It’s here that The Blue Cross steps in – a non-government funded charity which spends millions of £ each year to ensure animals aren’t deprived of their needs. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My day with their Victoria animal hospital strengthened my determination to raise them funds. At this location alone, they do over 30,000 consultations each year, and 7,000 operations – costing a staggering £3.5m, approx. 90% of this money is raised from non-client funds. In my mere six hours there, I witnessed various standard veterinary appointments, treatments varying from re-stitching an open wound to a bitch being spade, plus the heart analysis of another pooch. I also got to give cuddles to the various dogs and cats in recovery (sadly including a seven-month old staff’ who later that day had to be put to sleep due to a dislocated spine following a road traffic accident), and even go out in the animal ambulance. This veterinary care does not come cheap and if it wasn’t for The Blue Cross delivering this service, each of these animals would almost definitely have suffered. Clearly, the four UK Blue Cross hospitals, plus their mobile and animal welfare clinics across the country, are indispensable. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In memory of Hawkie-Dog, and in support of my aim to raise as much money as I can for The Blue Cross, please join me by donating what you can in support of my pledge to raise a minimum £1,500. Any donation would be hugely appreciated and I’ll be sure to repay the favour. It also goes without saying that I would love to see you on the day, encouraging me in what is probably the hardest challenge I’ve ever set myself.</span></span></span></p>