Update: I am SO pleased to report that I successfully completed the half-marathon in a time of 2:53:27 and in doing so have secured the fundraising that everyone has pledged.  Thank you to all my sponsors for your support - it certainly helped me get round the course.

This page will stay open for donations for some time so it's not too late to help push that total higher.


Originial message...
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If you've ever watched Noel's Christmas Presents, or the Children of Courage awards, then unless you are the hardest-hearted person on the planet, you will have been moved by the guts and determination shown by many children who are affected by illnesses that would leave a lot of us feeling very sorry for ourselves.  As a parent of a healthy teenager I can only imagine how difficult it must be to have to confront and cope with a debilitating and potentially life-threatening childhood illness.

For some time I've wondered how best I can help these kids and their families, and recently I had the good fortune () to win a free entry into the Nottingham half-marathon and was confronted with the choice of either foregoing the prize, or set about getting ready for my toughest physical challenge yet.  I chose the latter so I now face the prospect of having to drag my 20-stone frame around 13.1 miles of Nottingham's most scenic roads.  However, this challenge is nothing compared to what these kids face every day, so I need your help to lessen my pain by raising as much as I possibly can for the "When You Wish Upon A Star" charity  which, as you can see from the panel on the left, aims to grant the wishes of these brave kids.

Please help me help them by making each inch of that course more bearable by knowing that every step taken is doing something to help these children.

Update: it's now less than a week away from the big day itself and the training has gone according to plan.  The nerves are kicking in and the excitement is building.  Please help me hit the target with one last rush of support and there'll be children that will never know you but will be thankful to you for your support.

Many thanks.

Hugh