I've done it! I have got a place to run in the London Marathon in April 2012.
If I'm honest I can't quite believe it, and you probably can't either!
I'm running it for two reasons, firstly, if I'm honest, for me, and secondly, a very happy consequence, to raise as much money as I can for the Greater London Fund for the Blind.
The GLFB has been helping blind and partially sighted people for over 90 years. They help in so many ways, assisting all ages with dealing with life in the dark. The GLFB contribute to Clarity, a Not for Profit organisation, that employs blind people thus giving them independance, economic freedom and self confidence. This is just one of the many positive ways in which thie GLFB quietly goes about it's work.
From a very personal perspective, my Nan was partially sighted and received much help from the GLFB. The thing that probably had the biggest impact on her life without sight was probably the easiest to supply - she absolutely adored the "talking books" that she received from the GLFB. She was supplied with a tape deck the size of a small suitcase (this was the '80's!) and tapes. The excitement and enthusiam with which she looked forward to the next tape was completely disproportionate to the modest cost of running this service. Therefore anything you can donate will be put to good use and can genuinely change someone's life.
On a personal level since I first saw Chris Brasher on Nationwide (remember that!!) in the late 70's saying that he was struggling to get the authorities to agree to a London Marathon and shut roads etc, I thought that one day I would run the London Marathon if it ever actually took place. I thought my day had disappeared with the passage of time and my gently increasing waistline. But as we say round here "never say never" and I've only got a place in the biggest fund raising event in the world.
I would be very grateful if you could support this ageing, slightly overweight, eternal optimist in his first and last (we are saying never on this occasion!) marathon. But more importantly please dig deep and support a great charity in continuing in it's outstanding work.
Thank you for your support.
