Hi there guys and girls.
Firstly thank you for coming this far. For those that don't know I am signed up and running the 2008 Asics Reading Half Marathon. This fundraising event is the preparation for my biggest challenge to come, the Flora London Marathon, (when I’m accepted) in April.
I only ask that you donate what you can, as Tesco put it, every little helps. Any and all donations will help give me the mental strength of knowing you’re behind me and financial help for the charity. Plus the biggest motivator to get through the marathon will be knowing that I have your support.
So why? Over Easter, 2007 my dad went through two li transplantvers in 48 hours of each other after the first went wrong. Sitting in a waiting room with a 50/50 chance that my dad would not make it through the second operation was the second hardest thing in the world, the first was keeping my feelings aside and staying strong for my mum. It something that I wish no ever has to go through. But unfortunately more and more people will. Without a doubt I owe my dad’s life to the Queen Elizabeth Liver Unit and the British Liver Trust. Without them I would be fatherless.
I want to feel I've made an effort and running a marathon will require a hell a lot of effort. However, by pushing my mind and body to its limits of exhaustion and endurance I hope to raise the money to help more families and patients get the support and second chance that my family got.
My dad suffered from cirrhosis of the liver, but there are many different types of liver disease and plenty of information is available about all types of liver disease including ways to donate, at the BLT's website, www.britishlivertrust.org.uk.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: British Liver Trust 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 in with whatever you can afford, big or small!
Many thanks for your support.
James Leo Smith
