<p>Hello, thank you for checking in with my page.</p> <p>This year on February 25, four days after my 15th birthday, I will be attempting to skate 25 kilometres in the 2012 Finland Ice Marathon as a challenge to myself and to raise money for a charity that helps children. I will be going with a small group from school and my parents are sponsoring my trip costs as my 15th birthday present.</p> <p>The money I raise will go to The Refugee Council Children's Section which works to improve the lives of separated children in the UK. Around 2000 separated children arrive in the UK each year, without their parents, seeking safety from countries that are experiencing conflict with the highest numbers leaving Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, Iraq, and Eritrea. Recently there has been a significant increase in the number of children arriving from North Africa.</p> <p>The Children&sup1;s Section, which celebrates it&sup1;s 18th anniversary this year, works with around 1000 of these children every year, advising them regarding their claims for asylum and supporting them in relation to the wide range of other issues they face.&nbsp; The money I raise will be used to provide funds for social activities for the children such as sport which provide the children with much needed relief from the often challenging nature of their lives.</p> <p>I am not a keen skater&nbsp; and have not had much experience skating and have decided to do this skate in order to prove to myself that I can accomplish a goal which I set my mind to. This term, I have been training consistently at the gym to improve my fitness level. The ice training has been more difficult to fit in and the little I've done has been about staying upright and moving forward so this should be interesting!</p> <p>Thank you for your interest.<br>All the best,<br>Colm</p>