<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong>Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page that I have set up with "a little bit of help" from my gorgoues husband Mike.</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 to you. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money DIRECTLY to Release International 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>I started running in March 2006 after I suffered two major bereavements in a very short space of time. My world was totally shaken and I felt that I was loosing my Faith in Jesus and my sanity.</p> <p>I believe that God gave me Running as a gift as I needed to live out the pain that I was experiencing in my innermost being. Running can be, at times, very painful and you often just want to "throw the towel" - it's so much like being alive! Running has become a way of coping with the various challenges of life and I thank my Father in Heaven that He has blessed me with this wonderful gift.</p> <p>The Marathon is my favourite distance because it really pushes you to the limits and most of my life I have felt that I have been pushed to the point "where I can't go any further" but then God rescued me! Every time!</p> <p>These are some verses from the Bible that mean a lot to me as I feel that I am living them every day:</p> <p>"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the Race, I HAVE KEPT the faith"&nbsp; II Timothy 4, 7 the Amplified Bible</p> <p>and:</p> <p>"Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance and that sin which so readily clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence, the appointed course of the race that is set before us" Hebrews 12,1 the Amplified Bible</p> <p>This year I choose to raise money for Release International as I have deep compassion for my Brothers and Sisters that are suffering for believing in the same Jesus that I believe in. Whilst I can freely talk about Jesus in Europe my fellow Christians in countries like Sudan, Afghanistan, Irak, China... risk and often loose their lifes for Him.</p> <p>Release International works alongside the persecuted Church and brings Hope to the suffering Christians therefore I am hoping to raise a good amount of money for them. Please be part of it and give generously - it's so exciting and I know the good work will be done.</p> <p>You don't need to be a Christian to support my cause but if you would like to know more about Jesus and why people like me follow him you are welcome to drop me or my husband an email.</p> <p>April 2012</p> <p>I have to update my page, seeing that I would like to leave a very special message to everyone who has been so, so generous to support my cause so far. My deep gratitude to you all can't be put in words. All of you have been so kind, believing in me, trusting that indeed, I'll be running next month.</p> <p>My God has been so good to me and has helped me to overcome some injuries (always on my left foot) which could have potentially stopped me from this. These days, when I go for my training, I feel God running through me and it's the most amazing, mindblowing knowledge, that He, the Creator of the Earth, bothers to be with me on my runs! So, thank you again, to everyone who is supporting me. Not "just" through money but also with your prayers, your friendship and your Love.</p> <p>Extra extra special thank you to my husband who has gone through so much with me and still loves me. Thank you Jude for "my russian friend", your GPS that has enabled me to take up my training to a higher level! Thank you Saskia for filling the air with worship songs on our long runs! Thank you JESUS for never letting go of me!!! I love You, I love You, I love You.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>