UPDATE AFTER THE MARATHON:

The job is done!  ... just under 5 hours (4h56m).  It was hot (26 degrees), it was painful and yes, it was a flat course but it didn't help much :-).  Thank you to all those who already sponsored me (thought of this kept me going!).  Thanks to all those who are about to sponsor me (thought of this also kept me going!) :-))))) ... .  Berlin is beautiful and I was quite lucky with the weather in a sense ;-)

I will now quite happily start planning my social life and stop neglecting importan people in my life! :-)))

Best wishes to all of you!

Jo x

BEFORE THE MARATHON:

Dear Sponsor,

This will be my third marathon and for the third time I will be running for the same charity - Lavender Trust which is part of Breast Cancer Care.  I am very lucky to be supported by a number of great people ... Cherie Blair (Patron of Breast Cancer Care), Sir Steve Bullock (Mayor of Lewisham - Lavender Trust being his chose charity), not to mention my wonderful family and friends and NEIGHBOURS!  Cherie agreed very willingly to have some pictures taken to help me with my fundraising, even though she has just recovered from the swine flu at the time!!!! ... not to mention her very busy schedule!  There is also a very strong link of Lavender Trust to the Lewisham Council ... reading about the history of how this small charity was established brings me to tears ...

I just completed my longest run in training - 32km (3hrs30mins) and I'm feeling more confident to send this message out (4 weeks to the event!).  I do not have any sad personal story to share but I love sport and I love running (to be precise the feeling after I finished! :-))  and I appreciate life and since I am able to manage "to plod along" 42km course, it gives me a blessed opportunity to help all those brave women who either fight for life or learn how to come to terms with the outcome of quite often lifechanging surgeries.  Men get breast cancer too even though it is rare!  My two young daughters (Sophie and Anne-Marie) are also my INSPIRATION and hopefully they will learn something here.  I wouldn't be completely honest if I didn't mention that running does wonders to my BMI compensating my love for food! :-))))))

I am really looking forward to crossing the Brandenburg Gate  ... will see how it goes but would love to manage within 4hrs45mins.

Thanks for your generosity and support! ... will keep you updated :-)

... and by any means do not feel shy to donate if the target is met! :-))))))))

Jo xxx

In Polish:

Moi drodzy.  W skrocie wielkim znowu biegne w maratonie, tym razem w Berlinie i znowu dla tej samej organizacji charytatywnej!  Czyz to nie wspaniala okazja, zeby w 70-ta rocznice tak wlasnie zaakcentowac historyczny moment?  Pozdrawiam goraco wszystkich!

People who donated off line:

Teresa Strolla £10

My great NEIGHBOURS £506.46

Gayle and Ian Holden 44.00 (to top up to 550) ... yes, they are my great neighbours! :-)

Cllr Barie Anderson £10

Robin Stott £20

Christine from the gym £5

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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