Hello you wonderful people and thanks for visiting Marshall Griffin 's JustGiving page for the children's charity 'LUMOS'

On 17th April 2011 I will be running in the Virgin London Marathon for the children's charity 'LUMOS' 

My marathon build up is going very well and I am well over the half way mark in my 'long runs' Most of the miles have been around Clapham South Park and all over Colchester.I have now completed a 10k and finished the Brighton Half Marathon in 1hr 28mins! That was hard. 3 stitches and a meeting with the 'wall' made it extra hard.I have also just completed the Colchester Half Marathon and came 46th/1000!

Why the hell am I putting myself through this?

I picked LUMOS because it really needs the help. I doubt many people have heard of it as it was only officially launched about a year ago. It was originally set up as 'The Childrens High Level Group' by the author J.K Rowling and Baroness Emma Nicholson to address the problem of institutionalised and disadvanteged children in Eastern Europe. An article by Justin Sparks 'Ordeal of the Caged Czech Children' which you can read online if you have the stomach and focuses on children that have been abandoned to institutional care and are literally kept in cages. I can't say more than that really. Kids in CAGES. The image alone is enough to prompt anyone with a scrap of decency and humanity to do something. Anything. Get them out of the cages. Get tem out of the institutions and into a family environment with the proper care and support they need. It's possible. LUMOS are doing it. But they need us to help them to do it.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article445266.ece

  There is never a good time to ask anyone for pennies. But if you're  one of those people who finds themselves crossing the street when the 'umbrella people' are out in force or you've been meaning to 'spare some change' but when you put your hand in your pocket all you can find is a two pound coin you need for your lunch then this is the perfect moment for you to make up for it!

Please donate as little or as much as you can!

Gawd bless ya!

Marshall x

(Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. 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. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.)