Hi All!
Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.
Earlier this year, we set ourselves the crazy challenge of running the EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon 2009! Of course, we didn't want to put ourselves through this for nothing, so we've selected a couple of charities for the team to represent.
Keep checking back to this page to hear about our progress - I'll keep you posted with how we are going on training for the event.
Training Progress
05 Aug 2009: Today is the first day of our "proper training schedule"! I ran 3.5 miles today, Stephen managed 4.75 though, and Tris ran considerably more - having run to and from our house before running the 4.75 miles with Stephen!
Pip and I spent yesterday buying the right trainers. Basically, we've have accessorised ouselves to the hilt, but now we are determined to up our game so I can catch up to the other ladies before the big day!
Alex and Stephen have been to a seminar at Birmingham Uni to get the lowdown on how to train sensibly.
16 Aug 2009: Training schedule has been cranked up a notch now. I've managed 6 miles last week (which has to be some world record or something). Ok, so it took me 65mins to drag myself around the canals of Birmingham - but slow is better than not at all!
Pip has returned from Cornwall, and determined to catch up with training with the gays.
Stephen and Alex are going for a 6 mile run today - to the University Train Station and back!
Why we chose this charity:
Now, whilst I'll try and keep you amused on here with our progress, there's a serious reason behind why I chose BCH as one of the Team Gay charities.
My brother, Joey, was rushed to the hospital when he was born where emergency surgery was performed to repair a hole in his heart. He was one of the first babies in the world to undergo this ground-breaking surgery, and meant he spent 13 happy months us.
BCH help hundreds of children everyday and make a difference to so many children, parents and families. Without the skill of the doctors and nurses and the support and care of all staff at the hospital, my brother wouldn't have been in our lives for much time. BCH is the reason for many kids leading happy healthy lives, and becoming parents of their own one day - so many people are touched by their fantastic work!
Whilst I puff my way through each training session, and struggle with each step - the work these guys are doing right now is providing the inspiration for me to push a little harder, and flail my way through each mile (it's not a pretty sight, I can assure you!)
To view the other Team Gay charity page (for Stonewall) paste this URL into your browser:
www.justgiving.com/team-gay-runners-2
So, if you are reading this now - you've already made a huge difference! Share this with your friends, family and colleagues and help us reach our target of £400. I've seen the difference this money makes, and even if you can only afford a few pounds - every penny will help us reach our target. Thanks for reading - and keep checking back! We'll try and post some training vids, and we'll keep adding to this blog to keep you amused, and hopefully inspire you to part with a little more cash each time ;-) Thanks! Chris & Team Gay! P.S. Make sure you check the Gift-Aid box if you are a UK Taxpayer! Wouldn't you rather BCH benefit from your tax?! The stuff JustGiving adds to the blog: Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. 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 - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. So please dig deep and donate now.

