Raised: 135%
Target: £3,500.00
Raised so far: £4,728.70
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My story

 

Thank you for visiting our fundraising page for the 2009 Flora London Marathon.

Last April we both ran the 2008 London Marathon and thanks to the generosity of all you wonderful people, Lynda raised an amazing £3000 for Havens Hospices and John raised a fantastic £2700 for Missing People.

2008 was Lynda's first London Marathon and John's second and we finished within a minute of each other, taking approximately 5 hours 12 minutes.  What a day - the tremendous buzz, yet humbling feeling as so many of us lined up at the start to run those 26.2 miles for our chosen charities, each with their own story to tell.  The first 12 miles along the South Bank with the music, laughter and cheers from the crowds made even the rain not matter.  We then entered the Isle of Dogs as the faster runners were on their way back and we knew we had 8 miles before also returning to theTower ofLondon and onto the homeward stretch.  But oh that joyful and uplifting feeling seeing all our friends there supporting us.  Entering the Embankment, not knowing what our legs were doing, doubts crept in as to how we were going to reach the finish line, but still the crowds’ cheering could be heard and as we began to pick out familiar sights we knew we would make it!

So why are we running the London Marathon again?  We want to continue helping Missing People.  Our first contact with the organisation was 4 years ago.  Thanks to them John has been able to contact his son Michael who chose to become missing 10 years ago, while respecting his right to privacy.  Missing People still gives John a line of indirect communication with Michael and that keeps alive hope and the comfort of knowing that he is OK.

The work of Missing People includes support for families left in limbo, searching for thousands of missing people, helping children in desperate situations and enabling adults to pass a message home.  Approximately 10,000 missing children are hurt each year and face dangers like assault, sexual abuse and sleeping rough.  66% of missing adults encounter difficulties when missing, 33% feel threatened, 25% end up sleeping rough and many are elderly, disadvantaged and/or have mental health issues.

Only 30% of the funding for Missing People comes from the government and the rest is raised through donations and legacies from individuals, events, companies, shops and trusts.  Your help enables Missing People to carry out its vital work and to continue to bring families and loved ones back together.

We have both pledged £1750 to justify our places in the 2009 London Marathon.  Hopefully with your kind generosity and support once again, we can beat our targets and better our amazing previous sums raised and, who knows, we could break our own 5 hour target for the run!

Well we have now both done it and what a wonderful day it was again.  We didn't quite break our 5 hour target, Lynda took 5 hours and 29 seconds and John took 5 hours 23 minutes.  It was a very hot day and I think Lynda coped better with the heat than John.  What the hell, we both had a fantastic day and it really didn't take us too long to get over it.  The support from the crowd and all our family and friends was better than ever this year. Also that from our friends at Benfleet Running Club and congratulations to all that took part.

We may not have made our running target, but as you can see we have now exceeded our fund-raising target which is marvellous and thanks once again to the generosity of John's patients at the Kings Road Dental Practice, family and friends - to all of you a big thank you.  Also Lynda, and her good friend Chrissie, organised a Ladies' Lunch at the Essex Yacht Club when 95 ladies spent a very enjoyable few hours with excellent food and company.  Many thanks to all those who supported the event and helped towards raising an amazing £1027.90.  Please don't stop donating yet this fund raising web page is open until the end of July!.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Missing People gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor us now!

Well done both of you. We were so impressed and it made us exhausted just watching all day. So glad to see the fund raising is going so well. Donation by Steve and Carolyn 19/05/09  

£30.00

Inspiring! Donation by Davies 10/05/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Fantastic effort from both of you - very well done! Donation by Paul, Stella, Ryan & Laura 08/05/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Congratulations to you both. Time to take it easy now! Donation by The Peek Family 07/05/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Well done both of you, very proud of you. Donation by Matthew, Rachel, Thomas & Martha 30/04/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Congratulations to you both on your 2009 marathon success. I hope the donations keep coming in for this worthy charity. Donation by Hazel Read and family 27/04/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Hope it all went ok. Donation by Jenny French 26/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck to you both! Can't believe you're doing it again!! We know how hard it is but also how great it is!! We think you're amazing!! XXXXX Donation by Hannah and Tim Smith 23/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck to you both. Will be there at 14 and 21 miles to cheer you and wishing i was there again Donation by Denise and Keith 22/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best wishes to you both.Have a great run. Donation by Peter&Lynda WW 22/04/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

We will be cheering you on. Good luck. Donation by Stuart & Chrissie 20/04/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

good luck - hope the training's going well Donation by Sue and John Hicks 18/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

As I said this morning - you are a wonderful man John! Donation by Hannah Dawkins 15/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hope to be cheering you on! Donation by Barbara S 07/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Glad to see you're looking so well and happy. Good luck. Donation by Andy and Roni Rothwell 04/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

The bach was great, thanks. Good luck for the run. Hope to be there Donation by Nigel & Gill 24/03/09  

£300.00 + £84.62 Gift Aid

Good luck for 26th April Donation by Ken English 09/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best wishes Donation by June Read 05/03/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Very best wishes for a great run Donation by Steve & Heather Dean 21/02/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

John if your as good with your feet as you are with my gums-you'll whizz round.You will both be fantastic. Much Love xxx Donation by jacqui from the run club 16/02/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done to you both! Donation by John and Sue 23/01/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £825.00
  Offline donations: £3,903.70
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £224.23

* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out how much it is and what we do for it.