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Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

A few months ago a friend of mine was diagnosed with a type of lymphoma. She is a young, strong, and assertive woman. She had just started a promising career in a field that she felt passionate about. Then this...

She has just finished the first of many phases of her treatment and has had a very tough time getting through it. She is treating this as one of the many obstacles that have presented before her and is determined to overcome it and triumph. Her attitude to what is happening is truly inspirational. "I'll just have to fight it." ... she said these few words in a way that still resonates in my soul. 

This is where I'd like to invite you all to make a difference and help Macmillan Cancer Support as well as Lymphoma and Leukaemia Fund (Wales) which is based in Swansea. Please donate as little or as much as you can and as many times as you want. Most importantly, please tell as many people as you can about this and get them to help.

Oh... almost forgot. As a small token gesture for your kindness and goodwill, I'm going to run this year's Berlin Marathon on the 20th Sept. 

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.

"With all its Sham, Drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."- from Desiderata (Max Ehrmann, 1927)

Thanks again,

Alberto. 

17/09/09

Hi everyone,

Just a little update. My friend is doing really well. I saw her a few weeks ago and She had finished the chemotherapy phase of her treatment. The quacks are very pleased with her progress and now it's intensive radiotherapy. Her assertiveness and outlook remain unchanged and if anything she seems to be emanating determination at this halfway mark of her treatment.

In other news, my body has proven to be rubbish. A couple of weeks ago, whilst on a 20 miler, I felt a little twinge in my right leg and of course completely ignored it and continued with the run. After a few days training, the twinge became a pain which hurt even when walking.... no problemo.... rest it a little and carry on. 

I allowed myself a week off the running and carried on with rowing, cycling and swimming. The leg is better but i've been told by the quacks that i've got a groin strain which is going to need at least 6 weeks complete rest. I have therefore, decided not to run this year and have deferred entry until next year.

I feel like I've let a lot of people down but the donation response on and offline has been amazing and all the money IS going to two Fantastic causes. Since we've got another year, I've raised the charity target and have set myself a new time to run the marathon.

Many thanks for all your support and I shall endeavour to keep you informed of the progress.

Alberto

SEPTEMBER 2010 

Well, Chaps and Chapettes, thank you so much for visiting/ revisiting my fundraising page.

Firstly, I saw my friend a few weeks ago and she is doing and looking  great. The quaks are reviewing her every few months and she is showing fantastic signs of improvement. She is as energetic as ever and exuding an air of confidence which I have associated to be unique to her. I was informed (not by her ) that she had a very tough time during the chemotherapy phase of the treatment. I remember that I saw her during this phase and never was there a complaint or sign of weakness.

Well, the result is plain to see. She told me when she was first diagnosed with the Lymphoma, that she was going to beat it. and she has well and truly shown it who is boss. 

Secondly, please let me apologise to all of you who sponsored me for 09 for letting you down. You showed great belief in me and I didn't come up with the goods. 

So here is what I've been doing in preparation for Berlin 2010. In Feb 2010 I ran my fastest 10k beating my PB by 2mins. In May 2010 I ran my fastest half marathon, beating my PB by 5 mins and finishing 18th out of 1000 competitors. I have embarked on an 18 week Marathon training schedule leading me up to the actual Marathon. so I've basically been ...running. I wanted to get the last 20 miler on the training program done before I asked anyone for sponsorship as that was when I got injured last year. Anyway 20 miler done and feeling good so let's go... get sponsoring and raising funds.

Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored me already, and of course do feel free to sponsor me again. 

See you on the other side.