There may be a few who have noticed my absence from the gliding field this year. The cause is a new obsession. In February 2010 I took up running, and the following August my 4 kids thoughtfully  bought their aging dad a training heart monitor to help keep me alive. Then in March 2011 I exercised my parental authority and told them we would be entering a marathon. By popular consent we chose Amsterdam due to the lack of hills and the summertime training. They also enlisted 10 of their friends for the race.

 For reasons that escape me, there is something about a marathon that causes people to give to charity, and as my self-indulgent folly so far had no tangible purpose, I nominated Aerobility as a wonderful target for your generosity.

 

 Aerobility is a charity offering disabled people, without exception, the opportunity to fly an aeroplane .Aerobility removes barriers and offers disabled people a real sense of achievement and genuinely changes people's lives.  Aerobility's specially adapted aircraft fly from various airfields around the UK providing life changing trial flights and flight training. Aerobility formerly known as the British Disabled Flying Association aims to support all kinds of disabled aviation and represents the needs of disabled people whatever their aviation aspirations. 

 

I’ve been training hard with 565 miles already covered at 35 days to go until the start on October 16. If my knees make it to the finish line, my other bits should get there too.

So please sponsor me in the Amsterdam 2011 Marathon, and help Aerobility help aspiring disabled pilots  to join us in our wonderful sport, by donating so much of your money that it nearly hurts.