The Great Manchester Run is a 10k run which starts and finishes in the city centre on Sunday 18 May 2008. I will be running for The Noor Foundation UK and Kidney Research UK and here's why...

Kidney disease is one of the biggest killers in the world.

The Noor Foundation UK (of which I am a founder member and Secretary) is a registered charity providing FREE kidney dialysis to the poor of Pakistan . Established in 1998, we now operate 17 free kidney dialysis centres all over Pakistan, providing about 5000 free dialysis per month.

We work closely with Kidney Research UK, a registered charity focussing on the prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease in the UK .

Dialysis is an extremely costly treatment, each dialysis costing approximately £12 and is needed twice sometimes three times a week. In Pakistan there is no NHS and the average annual wage is just £400. Most of those with kidney disease (thought to be approximately 10 million adults) cannot afford treatment and die.

I have seen first hand the misery of those who suffer from kidney disease in Pakistan . I have also seen the difference to those who have been lucky enough to receive treatment at our centres. One lady springs to mind in particular as when she arrived at the Centre, she had already tried to kill herself. She now has three children and is thriving.

With the donations of generous people like yourself, many more lives can be saved.

All I am asking from each of you is £12 (if you want to give more, please do!). Why? Well, because it is the cost of one dialysis treatment and also because it is a modest amount that everyone can afford.

So please sponsor me just £12 today. I would love to achieve my target of £1500!!

So please sponsor me now donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Kidney Research UK 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 now!

Many thanks for your support.

Kashif