Story
<p><strong>Backstory:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>In the tradition of random drunken conversations, Gareth and James decided to run the London Marathon. Well, complete the London Marathon. The word 'run' is quite ambitious and we don't want any trade descriptions lawsuits.</p>
<p><strong>Gareth:</strong> <em>"Just before Mister Fair did his second marathon we were in Berlin for a "gig" and roughly the following statement occurred "When you do your third marathon, I will do my first" (Add slurring and falling over to taste). Fast forward ....some.... years and here we are."</em></p>
<p><strong>James</strong>:<em> "I don't remember this conversation. Gareth couldn't run a bath let alone a marathon." </em></p>
<p>Obviously we're doing it for charity. Please support our fundraising because it will help dull the excruciating pain of running 42 kilometres. Well,<em> completing</em> 42 kilometres.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Charity:</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition which can occur during pregnancy. It is a condition affecting the placenta and has serious health implications for the mother. The only cure is the delivery of that baby and this can lead to the death of the baby. It affects 10% of pregnancies and leads to the death of 1,000 babies and 7 mothers each year in the UK alone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #1c1c1c; background: white;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #1c1c1c; background: white;">Action for Pre-eclampsia is a UK charity, which aims to raise awareness of pre-eclampsia:</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span><span style="font-family: Symbol; color: #1c1c1c;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &amp;amp;amp;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #1c1c1c; background: white;">They run study days for midwives to enable them to identify pre-eclampsia in its earliest stages, so mother and baby's chances of survival are higher. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span><span style="font-family: Symbol; color: #1c1c1c;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &amp;amp;amp;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #1c1c1c; background: white;">They run a telephone and email helpline to give sufferers support and </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span><span style="font-family: Symbol; color: #1c1c1c;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &amp;amp;amp;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #1c1c1c; background: white;">They supply leaflets to the NHS for distribution to pregnant women</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt &amp;amp;amp;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #1c1c1c; background: white;">They run an expert referral service, so that women worried about their pre-eclampsia or risk thereof can be referred to leading experts in the field.</span></span><span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In these difficult financial times, small charities like APEC suffer as fundraising becomes more and more difficult. But in such a small charity, your donation can make all the difference.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For more information, go to <a href="http://www.apec.org.uk/">www.apec.org.uk</a> or email <a href="mailto:info@apec.org.uk">info@apec.org.uk</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">SO now you know it is for a good cause OTHER than seeing the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">photos of me in an ambulance/crossing the line/pulling a radcliff.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Coming along:</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">22nd of April - NOT doing any organising but your all welcome to turn up. Will put something together on facebook closer to the time so people can car share.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Remember every little helps, thanks a lot.</strong></p>