Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Shelter will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
So please sponsor me now!
Many thanks for your support,
Franco. 
Ok, now the pleading's out if the way, a little about the event and why I'm doing it - I was desperately unfit! I wanted to return to New York! I wanted to help others as part of my spiritual development, but already do that for my day job, helping people claim welfare benefits. The answer came to me as inspiration, because I know how fickle I can be about exercise - I needed a BIG goal to keep me motivated, and running a marathon is quite a big goal. The New Yorker combined my desire to return there with the goal of getting fit. Since I work for a Housing Association raising funds for Shelter the Homeless charity seemed the obvious route to further my spiritual development. Normally I prefer Vodka, but on this occasion, Shelter were really good to give me a place in the race even after the final closing date for their entries.
So will I finish? Yea. But slowly, in pain, with an awkward gait, and only with the guidance of others - sorry, joke about benefits.
Take the time to complete the gift aid part - it adds another 28% to your donation.
Oh, and there will be photos on here some time to prove its me, not a ringer...
Post Script November 8th:
Well, ,I made it. Apologies if you've had this email already.
If you haven't yet sponsored me there is plenty of time - the money needs to be in by January - but do it know before you forget.
New York was great, temperatures during the day were about 50 F which was warmer than the UK, although when the sun went down (or behind a scraper) it was chilly.
The start was at 10.10am but to get there I had to get on a bus before 7am, as the bridges and streets close down to traffic. The start was at Staten Island, crossing over the Verrazano Narrows bridge (incredibly a Florentine, Giovanni da Verrazano) is credited with discovering New York harbour in 1524), to the sounds of Frank Sinatra singing New York, New York ( what else?), and there were Police shooters on top of the buildings at the start for security; then on through through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan at mile 18, the Bronx, before returning to Manhattan and the finish at Central Park.
The route was full of crowds enthusiastically cheering and offering support, food, sweets, high fives and fives to the side; several bands played along the route.
Running was a good experience - once in a pace it was like on the motorway when it's chokka and everyone's travelling three lanes at the same speed; the ethnic mix is fantastic, and its really heartening to think that many if not most of the runners are doing it in aid of a charity.
Being my first marathon, I took things sensibly and walked when I felt like it; I was on course for 4.15 at the half way mark, but took it easy on the bridges after, walking up them, and after mile 22 my feet were killing and I couldn't run continuously, but I still came 25209th (!!!) with a time of 4:43:00. and a great sense of achievement, especially getting the Xmas shopping done.
|
