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<div> </div> <div> <div>Dear Friends</div> <div>  </div> <div>We're running the 26+ miles of the London Marathon this year to raise money for the Parkinson's Disease Society and we're writing to ask for your support. </div> Parkinson’s disease is a cruel progressive neurological condition affecting movements, such as walking, talking and writing.  There are 120,000 people with Parkinson’s in the UK alone and around 10,000 are diagnosed with the condition each year.  Of those, one in 20 people is under the age of 40.  There is currently no cure. The PDS supports sufferers and their families in every conceivable way and funds research and educational initiatives.  It does incredible work but is completely dependent on voluntary donations.  Dan's father Martin Coppel died of Parkinson's disease in 2005 so we are running and raising money in his memory.  We've targeted £15,000 - whatever you can give would be sincerely appreciated. <div>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 - we raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. </div> Many, many thanks for your support! Raj and Dan TRAINING UPDATE: March 1: saw  both of us visiting physiotherapists, ruefully reflecting that we might have peaked too soon.  For Dan in last week's Brighton half marathon <a href="http://www.sportsystems.co.uk/ss/resultsEvent.htm?eventId=282">http://www.sportsystems.co.uk/ss/resultsEvent.htm?eventId=282</a>, for Raj as captain of cross-country aged 13.   With a bit of luck and some bandages and tape, we'll make it to the start line on April 25 and from there, we'll hop, skip and hobble until we've done the 26 miles, leaving enough juice in the tank to make it to the pub for painkillers. April 4: Training has long since ground to a halt replaced instead with daily consultations with doctors, physios and health insurance tele-call centres. Medically speaking we're both charity cases. Since January, Raj has had severe iliotibial band syndrome, also known as knee-knack.  His physio bills alone rival the sponsorship we've collected.  2 weeks ago he had a cortisone shot without telling his wife.  His knee is no better and now he has head injuries.  Meanwhile, Dan suffered a stress fracture to his foot after running the Brighton half marathon and is currently hopscotching along in the same protective boot as Wayne Rooney.  He hasn't trained for more than a month and isn't allowed to until a few days before the marathon.  Stuart Lander will remain the fastest Jew in North West London for the time being. <div dir="ltr">So, if you require blood, pain and sacrifice with your sponsorship appeals, look no further! To be honest, we're not sure that we will be able to enter this one, but we will try very hard. And if we start, we'll do everything to finish.  And if not, we promise we'll do something else just as silly to justify your support. </div> <div dir="ltr">  </div> <div dir="ltr">April 26:   Despite plenty of problems in the build up, the day was a great success.  Raj overcame a serious knee injury to complete the 26 miles in good time and I raised a lot of money without having to run at all.  Both significant achievements!  </div> <div dir="ltr"> <div dir="ltr">   </div> <div dir="ltr">Without wishing to pick out one individual from a field of 35,000.... Raj was heroic.  His injury meant he could run only 4 miles in the preceding 4 weeks.  A cocktail of will power, neurofen and cortisone brought him home.  Well done Raj and your whole medical team!  </div>  In my case, I had to pull out last week when it became clear that my broken foot wouldn't heal in time to allow me to even walk around the course.  After so much training this was disappointing but I've just signed up for the prestigious Fleetwood - Blackpool Marathon in the Summer.  As challenges go, few people can say they've attempted this.  I've also got a place for next year in London.  This will keep my end of the bargain - and in fact you get two for the price of one. At the time of writing we've raised over £15,000.  Together with the PDS, we're extremely grateful for your support.  March 28 2011:  Whitesnake sang "Here I go again on my own" and just like the shaggy haired 80s rockers I'm not giving up, despite all advice to the contrary.  If 2010 was a medical write off 2011 has started in similar fashion.  I've managed about 6 weeks solid training but a hamstring strain and recurring tenderness around the metatarsals that I broke last year has changed my outlook.  Any hopes of training for a time are long gone and the plan now, with less than three weeks to go, is simply to make it round without troubling St John.         </div>    </div>

Raj and Dan in the London Marathon(s)

Raj and Dan in the London Marathon(s)

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