Story
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial;">Thank you for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial;">In April 2010 two of us (Jimmy and James) put ourselves through the pain of the London Marathon. This year two of our friends have been foolish enough to sign up for their first marathon, in blissful ignorance of what lies ahead.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial;">The pain that we will endure however is of course trivial in comparison with the suffering and hardship that many former and current soldiers and their families endure. They have given at best their time and at worst much, much more in the service of their country. We are proud to be running for The Soldiers' Charity and hope to help to provide financial assistance for some of the many deserving cases.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial;">The Soldiers’ Charity gives lifetime support to serving and retired soldiers and their families. The charity provides financial assistance where there is a real need, and has done so for 66 years. It has seen a <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">30% rise over the past two years</span></strong> in applications from soldiers who have taken part in previous and current conflicts, and currently aims to raise £7 million a year to meet this need.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial;">However, it is anticipated that as a result of current operations requests for assistance will rise significantly in the coming years. The Soldiers’ Charity aims to increase their fundraising to <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">£14 million a year by 2015</span></strong> to be sure that they can help each and every soldier who needs their help. <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">They depend entirely on your donations and goodwill to do this.</span> </strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial;"> </span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">D</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">onating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #1c1c1c; line-height: 140%; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Thank you in advance for supporting what we consider to be an extremely important and worthwhile cause.</span></p>