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Hi Friends and Family!  As part of my aim to get fit again, and challenge myself physically with something other than playing ping pong at work, or lifting pints in the pub, I've decided to take on the Paris Marathon in April 2011!  ...bear with me, I'm a little out of breath at the thought of it...  ....OK, so to go with this, I thought it only right to use the opportunity to try and donate some cash to Leeds Mencap, a local branch of Mencap which my Friend Lucy Young manages. ALL of the money I raise will go directly to Leeds Mancap (that is- I'll pay for my own travel, accomodation and marathon entry fee). I hope to raise a modest £500, so anything you can spare for this cause would be very much appreciated by me and the people the charity supports!  .. and so, a few words about Leeds Mencap..  <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Leeds Mencap works to improve the lives and opportunities of children and adults with learning disabilities and their families across Leeds.  Their vision is a world where people with a learning disability are valued equally, listened to and included.  Everyone has the opportunity to achieve the things they want out of life.  People with a learning disability find it harder than others to learn, understand and communicate, but like all of us they want different things out of life and need different levels of support to achieve those goals.      <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Leeds Mencap aims to provide that support, advice and practical help for the whole family through a variety of services.  <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">One of their services, the Hawthorn Family Support Centre which Erin (in the picture) attends, works with families who have very young children (0-3 years) with a learning disability. This service really is a lifeline to the families that it supports at what can be a very traumatic time. One family said- " Words can't describe the difference the Hawthorn has made to our daughter and our family- you have given us so much...Thank you for making such a difference!" <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><img src="https://mail.google.com/a/spotify.com/?ui=2&ik=dd55f0489b&view=att&th=12c3b9cebb4c65db&attid=0.1&disp=emb&zw" alt="" /> Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.  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.

Andy's Paris Marathon Challenge!

Andy's Paris Marathon Challenge!

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