As many of you that read this know I will retire from the City at the end of January 2010.  Retirement usually means the freedom to travel, getting the golf handicap down and taking life at a slower pace. However, for reasons I still fail to comprehend I have decided to take on a personal challenge and take part in one of the greatest marathons of all times!  On the 25th April I will now be running the Virgin London Marathon 2010 on behalf of the wonderful charity Carers UK. 

I have been involved with Carers UK for over 3 years as a Trustee and as Chair of the Fundraising Sub-Committee. People from all walks of life and backgrounds are carers, and there are currently 6 million people in the UK who provide unpaid care and support to ill, frail or disabled friends or family members. Many carers give up their homes, their careers, their whole lives, in order to care for a loved one. They do this with little practical help or financial support and as a result, many are forced to live in poverty and poor health.  

Carers UK is the leading campaigning, policy and information organisation for carers, and we want to improve carers’ lives and help them get the practical, financial and emotional support they desperately need. Many carers are expected to live on just £53.10 a week from the Government, and Carers UK strongly thinks this needs to change and is campaigning for better rights and recognition for carers.

With 3 in 5 of us becoming a carer at some stage in our lives, this really is a vital cause, and every donation no matter how small will help many more carers.

If you want to find out more about Carers UK then please visit their website www.carersuk.org

Gift aid your donation

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Carers UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.