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Hello Everyone! Well, if you've got this far, I presume you'll know that Richard Simister, Matt Green and I are running from the Bupa office at Salford Quays to the Bupa office in Staines over the course of seven days, beginning on Saturday 20th August. This equates to an average of just over a marathon per day. Seemed like a good idea at the time... While Simi and Greeno are running for the Children's Adventure Farm Trust - a cause dear to Simi's heart - I have decided to try to raise money for two charities which both have a very personal resonance. Before I say a little about each, and the reasons behind choosing them, can I make a couple of [tiny] requests? Firstly, if you are kind enough to donate, please can you divide the figure you have in mind in half and donate to both charities? I know this will take double the time, but both websites are super easy to use - honestly! Donations to the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund are made via JustGiving on THIS page. However, those made to the Allyson Marie Gross Memorial Scholarship Fund can ONLY be made directly though that charity's own website (ensuring that every penny collected goes to the fund) - the address to donate is <a href="http://allygross.com/donate.php">http://allygross.com/donate.php</a> Secondly, from previous experience, I know that it is possible to donate on JustGiving displaying your name, but leaving the monetary value 'anonymous'. Can I please ask you to do this? Despite raising money for charity, I don't like the guilt trip involved! About the charities… Early last year, my Uncle Bill passed away - just a few months before he was set to retire. His untimely exit was caused by mesothelioma, a form of the more commonly known 'asbestosis', caused by exposure to and inhalation of asbestos fibres. Without going into too much detail, I couldn't believe the rate of his demise. Even into his 60s, Uncle Bill was fit and strong, but suddenly had to be supported just to prop himself up in bed. Uncle Bill was a carpenter for over 40 years, but could remember the actual time he came into contact with asbestos when carrying out a shop refurbishment back in the 70s. The warnings about the dangers of asbestos are now well known, but the symptoms can take 20 - 30 years to become apparent and so this will undoubtedly become a notorious form of cancer over the next few years. The Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund raises money to increase awareness of, and help fund research studies about, cancers caused by asbestos. The other charity I'm running for is the Allyson Marie Gross Memorial Scholarship Fund. Ally was the fiancée of my best mate, and someone I could truly count as one of my own friend's. Following what was considered to be routine surgery to repair a 'hole in the heart' (a defect that she'd been born with), Ally left hospital seemingly fit and healthy early in 2009. Tragically, and suddenly, she died a week later from a rare heart infection at the age of 24. As a writer and aspiring journalist, Ally's Mum - Bobbi - decided to set up a fund in her name to give financial assistance to a student graduating from St. Michael's School to Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus, Ohio (Ally's old schools). Thanks for your time and support, Tomo/ Richard. Now for the default blurb... 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.

Salford to Staines

Salford to Staines

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Donation summary