<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p> <p>I am Rich Stretton AKA the Marathon Fool. I've never run before and so rather than do a half marathon first I decided to go staright for the big one, The London marathon. I will be running like Forest Gump on April 22nd. Its only 26 miles - it nothing in the car! But I'm training like Rocky Balboa only with out the 6 pack and although I can run up steps I 'm not able to bend my legs enough to get back down them.I am so knackered I could do with a holiday!</p> <p>I love holidays! (apart from the packing and getting up at 4.30am).Getting away from the day to day routine, having no pressure to do anything but spend good quality time with those you love the most. Its so enjoyable you just dont want to go home. I am lucky that I am to able to have these memories.</p> <p>I am running for a great charity. The Family Holiday Association offer children and families who live in poverty in the UK a chance to get away from their day to day lives, often for the first time ever.What makes this even so more special is that the families who benefit from this charity, have experienced other difficult challenges that life can throw at them. Most beneficieries have lost a parent or have a family member fighting serious illnesses such as cancer.</p> <p>I have never run a a marathon before, or even a half marathon. I'm now into week&nbsp;9 of my training and I am knackered. I'm running 4 times a week and my knees hurt but through this charity I have realised that I have nothing in my life to moan about, and I have all that I need to be happy. I have a beautiful wife, (should get me some sponsorship), 3 happy healthy children, great family, great in laws, (who will no doubt offer to drink my beers for me during training), and great mates, (to take the piss out of me in a pair of running tights). I work for First Great Western, who are an official supporter of the charity. As an Investor in people it is nice to represent the company in this role in return for the time,support and development they have invested in myself, (....&pound;&pound;&pound;&pound;&pound;&pound;!)</p> <p>All Donations are greatly appreciated. &pound;150 will provide maintenace on on of the caravans, &pound;50 pays for train fares, &pound;25 will treat the family to an excursion and even &pound;5 will buy everyone an ice cream, so please give what you can.</p> <p>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. So it&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p> <p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>