21st October:

Back in the UK after completing the half marathon on the streets of Amsterdam in 1 hr 59 mins 24 secs. So just managed to squeeze under the 2 hour mark, which was pleasing but missed out on a PB (requiring running about 3 minutes faster).  All was fine until around 13km, then it got a bit slower. Then the last 2-3km were a pig to be honest and though the spirit was willing, the body was not. However, it was a good event, lots of runners and well supported. Had a lovely extended weekend and can thoroughly recommend Amsterdam for a visit (and not for the well-known "attractions"!). Thanks for your support for me and the DEC appeal.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I am running in the Amsterdam Half Marathon on 18th October to raise money for the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Indonesia. the Philippines and Vietnam.

This will be my third half marathon and with a dodgy achilles and tender ankle I might be struggling in the last few kilometres (just over 21 km since you ask). However, my minor discomfort is as nothing to the difficulties people in the East Asia region are experiencing.

In one week from Saturday 26 September the East Asia region was hit by 3 separate natural disasters; Typhoon Ketsana swept through the Philippines that day and onto Vietnam on the 29th causing extensive damage and flooding; on 30th September in Indonesia an earthquake registering 7.6 on the Richter scale struck western Sumatra followed by an aftershock of 6.6 a day later.

Well over a 1000 people are thought to have died in Sumatra but this is likely to be a low estimate whilst many thousands are trapped underneath collapsed houses. It is estimated that 20,000 people have been injured.

In the Philippines over 2.5 million people have been affected by destruction and flooding leading people to leave their homes for higher land. Diseases are starting to spread amongst survivors and a further second typhoon, Parma, has now hit the country.

Finally in Vietnam over 1 million people have been affected by flooding and damage to infrastructure from the typhoon. Many areas remain underwater as more rain is falling and high winds are battering the region. Thousands have been evacuated.

DEC agencies and their longstanding partners are responding in all three countries, rescuing survivors, giving first aid, and distributing prepositioned relief stocks including clean up kits, shelter items, water trucking, water filters and containers and disbursement of cash grants.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) was formed in 1963. We are an umbrella organisation for 13 humanitarian aid agencies.

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.