<p><span style="color: #000080;">Well, thanks to some jabs for a calf strain (happened the day before the race!!), I got round the course. I am very grateful for all the generous support - I never take it for granted that people will part with their hard earned cash. With Towergate's matching of personal donations and gift aid, BHF's cardiac reasearch team&nbsp;will benefit by well over &pound;18k</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000080;">Special appreciation goes to: Chartered Insurance Institute for a brilliant donation - most generous - thanks Sandy, Peter and all who deal with Towergate. Paul Dyer who kicked off the fund in style. Also the guys at Lexicon ("world class corporate finance advisers") who gave very kindly despite, I am told, not being on bankers' bonuses. EVC printers were also generous as always. Thanks also to Alan Clarke, Oval Insurance Brokers and Ageas Insurance Co.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000080;"><strong>FEB 2010: </strong>Up until March, ticker trouble and&nbsp;too many Mars bars meant that I have barely run more than two miles in one go during the past decade! </span><span style="color: #000080;">I had the all clear to put that right and I am running the 2010 New York Marathon in the autumn for the British Heart Foundation. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #000080;">Following my wife Liz's major heart surgery, I&nbsp;was&nbsp;all too aware of the importance of&nbsp;BHF's work, but the sad and sudden death of a colleague, Matthew Bright, finally got me shopping for new trainers.&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #000080;">Matt went out the door one day for a run and never came back - he was a class act and a devoted dad. A fund in memory has been registered with BHF and all donations will be channelled directly to&nbsp;their much needed research. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #000080;">No donation is too small and I hope you can help us help a great cause. For the record, I am covering all my own costs for the trip and entry.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000080;">Many thanks for your support. Marc</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000080;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="color: #808080;"><em>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.</em></span></p>