Thank you for visiting my fund raising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online. RNIB help blind and partially sighted people. Every day another 100 people will start to lose their sight.  Your support helps them rebuild lives devastated by sight loss.

My last eye operation was 3 years ago. I met very many people with far worse sight than mine at the eye clinic. I thought I might lose my sight. I've been taking good sight for granted lately - many can't. RNIB do what they can to help them.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It's also the most efficient way to sponsor me. RNIB receive your money faster and, if you're a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Also, the Abbey Charitable Foundation will match all I raise up to £700. So, if  you give £10, Abbey give £10, the government gives £2.80, so RNIB get £22.80.

In 2007 I knocked 27 minutes off 2006's time, finishing in 2 hours 39 minutes. My  2008 target was 2 hours 30 minutes - but although the first 2 miles went very well in 20 minutes, that nasty slope up into Gateshead seemed to be a turning point -  the spring in my step got left behind on the Tyne Bridge!  Never mind, I enjoyed it, and 2 hours 55 minutes was still faster than in 2006.  That 2:30 target will now have to be carried forward to 2009, or even 2010!

Once again it was a terrific experience, the running itself, all the other runners, and the crowds all along the  way. I've added some pictures I took to a Facebook album page that will be available for all to view at;

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33048&l=c32be&id=629254719

I've also added a bit more commentary to this album, just click on each picture to see larger view and any story. (You'll probably have to copy and paste this to your address bar as the hyperlink isn't working.)

I'd been walk/jog/running the 8.5 miles from home to work once a week this year. I needed to get below 95 minutes to achieve target. The best I'd managed was 98 minutes, and usually nearer 105, so the final result wasn't a total surprise.

Fund raising has gone more to plan and I must thank all my kind sponsors for your most generous support. The offlline section includes the £700 I've received from the Abbey Charitable Trust as matched giving.

It's  not too late to sponsor me -  this page will remain open until 31st December! I'm entered again for 2009, so the more names appearing here, the more I'll be spurred on - and RNIB will also be very happy!

Many, many thanks once again for your support.

Chris

My previous fund raising pages are still online, 2006 at; http://www.justgiving.com/GreatNorthRun-RNIB-ChrisMorgan and 2007 at: http://www.justgiving.com/GreatNorthRun2007-ChrisMorgan