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So, let's cut to the chase. I'm asking you to help me raise money for two charities that target developing countries - one to provide clean potable water and the other is working to eradicate polio. I'm planning to run [err, plod] the London Marathon in April to raise the money. You probably didn't know about my connections with Richard Branson and Bill Gates, so read on for a bit more background.
The attached photo's tell the story. A few years ago I took stock; I've got a lovely family, a good job, a friend, a car that sometimes doesn't break down and of course an expanding waistline. I took hold of myself and when I'd finished that I did the only thing left after the cosmetic surgery had failed - I trained for a marathon. It was 13 yrs since I had last run a marathon and the pain had more or less faded from memory.
That was last year - I staggered through the "Great Ocean Road marathon." It is one of the most scenic places you can pay to be in pain that I could recommend (the only one I can mention in mixed company). That experience got me back on the horse so to speak. I had pestered a few friends and family 'back home' in Blighty about the London marathon - could they get me in? I had tried to get a place in the 1980's when I still needed a head-band, but it was as difficult as trying to catch Paris Hilton on her home phone number.
Then, a few months ago when I was sliding back into beer and sausages, my Aunty - Helen of Tower Hamlets got me a place among the 36,000 starters at the 2010 London marathon provided I helped their fund raising efforts. You may not know the London Marathon is the largest 1-day fund-raising event in the world [we're hoping to raise more than last year's record of £47.2m]. This year is the 30th London Marathon and the first time Richard Branson's Virgin is sponsoring it [didn't know he had one?]. I am keen to see if his famous recruitment standards extend to the post-race rub down practitioners....?
Now, this is where YOU come in. No, sorry not for the massage, but for the charity. Please help me show the Tower Hamlets Rotary Club (that's in London for those of you without SatNav) that I am worthy of their only ticket to the marathon. We're raising money for 2 charities that work in poor and developing countries to give the men, women and children access to the most basic things that we take for granted every day;
1. Thanks for Life; a global initiative backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates' Foundation to eradicate polio from developing countries - see more at http://www.ribi.org/thanks-for-life/thanks-for-life-overview , and
2. Water Aid; an international NGO, providing water, sanitation and hygiene education in poor and developing countries - see more at http://www.wateraid.org/
If you skip a few cappuccino's and pledge $25, it would enable 1 person to access safe water & improved sanitation & hygiene.
According to Wateraid, 4,000 children die each day from diarrhoea caused by unclean water and poor sanitation (approx 2 would have died in the time it's taken to read this). Polio is an infectious disease that spreads due to poor sanitation and over-crowding and affects many children in poor and developing countries.
So, how about skipping a round of drinks on Friday night and pledging the cash here right now? I'm going to run 42.2km [26.1 miles] around London on April 25th so please give me some money or I'll post my running socks to your office. If you are the lucky doner I might even give you Paris' home number.
Donation is in UK Pounds, so 1UK Pound = $1.66 / or 1 AUD is approx 60p [ergo A$1/km=£25]
