Dear friends,

Thanks a lot for your support and encouragement.   Race day ambience was simply fantastic – so much energy and creativity from participants and charities, which evidently makes it the largest annual fundraising event in the world!   I started well, but the wheels fell off around the 18 mile mark. From there on, it was all about digging deep. Curb support and energy drinks were a great boost to help me past the finish line in 4h22m! A 'personal best' given it was a first, but it has certainly spurred me on to go for another one (some day!)   Thanks again. Cheers, Gaurav

 

Dear all,  at some point in life, we've all been reckless and naive. One of those moments for me was a short while back when a dear friend – Steve Lister left a persuasive voicemail to enter the London Marathon 2010. This is the same person, who a few years ago carried me to the summit of the Mont Blanc (and back!), so the thought of being dragged past the finish line on The Mall did cross my mind!

I will be running for Spinal Research - who are funding pioneering research with a vision to have a world free of  paralysis caused by spinal cord injury. To me Spinal Research was an automatic choice as my wife Hazel and I feel so strongly about a young, vivacious woman, who happens to be a very dear friend, being robbed of a normal life. Over the years we have prayed and hoped for a miracle but I now realize that her best chance is a breakthrough in medical research.

Training is underway. It will not be easy foregoing all the good food, cheese and wine this season. But I am a man on a mission and plan to remain focused through the Swiss winter, though must admit not having run anywhere close to that distance seems a mammoth task.

I need support from friends and family to participate in the marathon and am relying on you to help me raise the target money for the charity. Your support during the run would also be truly important....especially the last 25 odd miles…….See you on the 25th April, 2010. Many thanks in advance, cheers, Gaurav