A huge thankyou for stumbling upon the page of the cycling running nutter. My friends mostly describe me as a nutter and if I'm honest I'm inclined to agree as of late! I've always been a big believer in finding a charity that motivates you to make a change in the world you live in that will benefit others less fortunate than ourselves. Well Mercy Ships certainly did that alright!!!
I'm running 262 miles in 2012! 8 marathons and 4 half marathons...with more to be added. The aim is 12 marathons in 2012....
I learnt of this charity several years ago and realised I wanted to help play a part in making a positive change to peoples lives, so much so that I cycled London to Paris and then ran Chester marathon shortly after. I needed a bigger braver (crazy) challenge if I wanted to motivate you guys to help me be a part of this change! Please donate even a little change to change lives although all paper money gladly welcome! I named this little challenge "running the extra mercy mile" In short I'm running way more marathons and half marathons than anyone would recommend or even run in their lives! - Liverpool half - Snowdonia half - Paris marathon - Manchester marathon - Chester half - Edinburgh marathon - Liverpool marathon - Berlin marathon - Great North Run (half) - Chester marathon - Amsterdam Marathon - Preston Marathon.
More to be added shortly, but I aim to total approx 12 marathons averaged across all of my halves and full. Please help me motivate my fat bum around these courses every time I pull on my mercy jersey by sponsoring me whatever you can. Every penny counts, even a fiver helps change a life. Those of you who know me, know I only started running 6 months ago and the furthest and fastest I usually run is to catch a bus or last orders, so you'll understand how hard this year will be on my body and sanity in equal measures!!! It's all for Mercy Ships, an amazing charity that brings hope and healing to some of the worlds poorest nations, including those torn apart by war and poverty. Doctors and nurses give up their time voluntarily for months even years at a time to offer their skills and expertise, not only to operate but to educate, some even living on the ship and bringing up their family on board. We take it for granted that we have such an established well developed welfare and care system, providing for all our needs. Could you imagine being outcast by the town in which you live because you have a tumour on your face so large, you are outcast by your own family, how about being left totally incontinent because of obsteric fistula through pregnancy?? It's hard isn't it....I could speak all day and tell you how amazing their work really is but perhaps you should take a look at
http://www.mercyships.org.uk/lives-changed
Did you know that an operation, saving someone's sight costs the same as a night out or a pair of trainers? (£40)
For the price of a weekly food shop you could give somebody food for life!!! - Agricultural training costs £50
How about the price of a smile? Priceless? Well around the same cost as half a tank of petrol- £30 for dental treatment.
Cleft lip surgery to give a child or adult back their face, helping them grow strong, and the ability to eat and drink properly? £40
Maxillofacial surgery to remove a facial tumour and help somebody be accepted into their community even saving their life? £60!
Orthapeadic surgery to help a child walk (clubfoot etc), £50.
Finally, an operation to correct obstetric fistula, alleviating a women's total incontinence and transforming her life costs £50.
These may all seem like regular NHS operations to us, but uncured these conditions devestate and snatch peoples lives. Not only do mercy ships operate they educate communities for future improvement in healthcare, and it's all provided for free. It's life changing stuff folks.....And you can help.
Please sponsor generously, as this is no mean feat for me, I'm not naturally built to do these kind of things! I'm not a natural fitness freak, so this is going to be one of the biggest challenges of my short 25 year life yet! Many thanks for taking the time to read my page...hopefully it's made you giggle a little too...even if it is at my expense!
