For the past 6 months or so I have been in training (yes cakes are a valuable course of calories) and seem to have suffered every form of running related injury known to like-minded olympic athletes (blisters, runners knee and shin splints to name but a few) ... but only a couple of weeks to go now before I hang up my long distance running shoes for good...
I'm running the London Marathon in aid of the Niemann-Pick Disease Group (UK), an organisation you probably have not heard of before, because Niemann-Pick is very rare - there are less than 100 people across the whole of the who suffer from it, most of whom are children. I had also not heard of the condition until the daughter of friends of ours, Alice, was born with Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC).
NPC is a genetic condition which over time causes difficulty in swallowing, lack of muscle control and progressive mental degeneration, leading to dementia. The condition is life-limiting and currently there is no cure.
Funding to the charity provides for a clinical nurse specialist, help and support to families affected by the disease and contributes to vital research into a treatment and, we hope, a cure.
Whilst trying to better my time of 2 years ago it would be fantastic to raise as much as possible so that the charity can continue to provide its’ invaluable support. If you would like to help, please sponsor me.
Very many thanks for your support and if you're a taxpayer then don't forget to Gift Aid your donation!
As an added incentive for you to all dig deep, if I surpass my targeted goal before the race then I'll get my hair coloured/dyed for the run - and in anticipation of this the kids have already bought the GREEN! colour for me (unless its due to rain on the day - as the colour will run and I'll end up looking something like the Incredible Hulk!)
