<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">If you prefer you can now also donate via texting <strong>Lami52 (followed by the amount you wish to donate e.g. &pound;10) to 70070</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;">In December 2010 my wife had a kidney removed and with it a 9cm tumour. She had become ill and the tumour was discovered along with cysts in her lungs. She was diagnosed with the rare disease <strong>Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). </strong></span></p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;">Lymphangioleiomyomatosis or LAM is a rare lung disease that only occurs in women. It affects just over one woman in a million and <strong>LAM Action </strong>is aware of 120 women in the United Kingdom who have LAM. The purpose of LAM Action is twofold. Firstly, it is a self-help group to provide support and encouragement for patients with LAM. The second purpose of LAM Action is to raise money for research as it is often difficult to obtain money for research into a rare disease.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;">To help raise funds and awareness for LAM Action I have decided to run the <strong>2012 London Marathon </strong>on Sunday 22nd April along with my brother, Richard Sharples and school friend John Bennett. As an extra challenge we are also going to run the <strong>Manchester Marathon</strong> the following Sunday (29th April). </span></p> <p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Update 1 26.2.12</strong></span></p> <p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>A successful run at the Great North Western Half Marathon in Blackpool this morning saw the team all complete the run well.&nbsp; Richard completing in a fast pace of 1.31, John with a time of 1.37 and Matt with a time of 1.55.&nbsp; A very enjoyable race with good conditions and only a bit of stiffness on Monday morning!!</strong></span></p> <p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Update 2 4.3.12</strong></span></p> <p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>The first 20 mile runs of the training plans took place this weekend with John running a 20 mile loop in the Ribble Valley and&nbsp;myself and Rick taking part in the Trimpell 20 in Lancaster.&nbsp; All three of us&nbsp;did well and are well on track for the spring marathons.</strong></span></p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Thanks for your generosity</strong></span></p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;">Matt, Richard and John</span></p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>