Hello,

Thanks for getting this far....just a couple more steps and you will have done a very good deed. I have agreed to run my first half marathon on October 12th 2008 (er, less than a month away) for the charity YoungMinds (www.youngminds.org.uk) and the only thing that will make the 13.1 miles of pain okay is if I manage to raise a little money to help YoungMinds continue their work to improve the mental health of children and young people. In these times of credit crunching I appreciate any small donation- just one or two pounds would be great.  But don't worry about exceeding the target- after all I will be nearly killing myself if the last training run is anything to go by (blisters after three miles and the resultant slightly unorthodox running style do not bode well for a record breaking time).

I think most would agree that YoungMinds is a terrific charity (if you are not sure please go and check it out on their website ) and that investing in the mental health of children and the young is vital for happy healthy people.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: YoungMinds gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So if you are able please sponsor me!

Thank you

Clem

p.s- Becca (my sister) has said that if I make over £1000 (she thinks she is safe) then she will run the London Marathon for a cause close to her heart, the Battery Hen Welfare Trust, dressed as a bantam ('just with a plume...can't get too hot'.). Now,if that is not incentive enough for some of you who know the unlikeliness of this scenario, I don't what is.

Update: Due to the incredible generosity demonstrated by everyone so far, Becca's challenge has gone from an abstract and ridiculous prospect and closer to a reality (though still utterly ridiculous). She points out that, though the bantams deserve some attention, she would also be running for organisations with humanitarian aims (this does not include the Reiki Federation) and that she has made this undertaking with the serious intention of following through. To this end she has started thinking of other cardio workouts aside from her daily sun salutations. I have suggested running.