Raised: 110%
Target: £1,000.00
Raised so far: £1,098.00
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My story

 
Hooray!! We did it!!

On Sunday 12th July, I completed the British 10k London run for Tibet Relief Fund, dressed as a big black yak! There was a small herd of 6 of us - all running for Tibet Relief Fund's fantastic projects for Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile in India and Nepal. Me and Gauthier were dressed as full yaks, whilst Che, Khechoe, Hannah and Cathy all dressed as baby half-yaks. It was a beautiful hot day (a little too hot for my liking inside the hottest costume known to man (or yak?)) but still glorious, great fun, and we all finished the race - raising an expected £3,000 plus.

Thank you so so much to all of you who sponsored me - thinking about how much your money would make a difference was a huge incentive as I sweltered inside my costume, down the Embankment, past the Houses of Parliament and onto the finish in Whitehall. Although I did walk much of the way (my giant head made it difficult to canter!) there were spontaneous outbreaks of dancing as we passed bands and DJs en route, and I managed a superfast finish (although as you can see from the photos, I had to hold onto my head to stop it waving around at such high velocity!). The giant yak head overheated a little in the London summer sun, and when I eventually removed it after my almost 2 hour race, my face was amusingly covered in sweat, fake fur and paint! All very funny though and just an incredible feeling of achievement (thanks to you, the sponsors), as we trooped off to St James Park for a celebratory picnic with competitors, other Tibet Relief Fund staff and well wishers!

A massive thank you too to my housemates the brilliantly talented Maija and Maki for designing and creating all the costumes, with a little help from me  - our flat was a cacophony of papier mache, fake fur and paint for several weeks beforehand; but the results were really awesome and so worth it - thank you girls! En route we had lots of shouts of 'Free Tibet!' (we carried Tibetan flags the whole way), as well as 'Go Yaks!' (we liked this), 'torro torro' (slightly mis-judging our costumes) and 'Go you goats' (just all wrong!)

Anyway, in total I raised, as you can see, nearly £1,100, which will make a huge impact on Tibet Relief Fund's life-changing and life-saving projects. If you haven't sponsored me yet, and you'd like to, it's really not too late :-). Tibet Relief Fund provides essential healthcare and education, plus support for development and self- sustainability projects, for thousands of Tibetans in India, Nepal and Tibet - and could really do with your help. You can check out some of Tibet Relief Fund's projects at: http://www.tibetrelieffund.co.uk (although please be patient as their website was evilly hacked and is patiently being rebuilt).

Donating through Justgiving is fast, easy and totally secure and the most efficient way to sponsor me. Tibet Relief Fund gets your money really quick and if you're a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your donation at no cost to you!

OK, thank you again everyone, just so much - your generosity has completely overwhelmed me :-) and will change the lives of many.

...and watch this space for news on future marathons, yak-style....


well done, katie- a fantastic achievement :-) Donation by kirsty dennis 28/07/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done Katie, You are a star! Donation by Nicole Shilling 23/07/09  

£3.00 + £0.85 Gift Aid

Sorry for tardiness. I just wanted to be the last to donate on your page!!! Well done. PS do they do vegan yak burgers? Donation by Paul Golding 14/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

better late than never! well done darl i bet you were the best lookin yak there! Donation by claire cooper 13/07/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done! You're amazing! You'll feel great at the end, as someone who once did a 10K and promptly never ran again! Donation by anna Branthwaite 02/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Glad to see you reach your target. It's good to see you do something you believe in. Good luck with the actual run. Donation by anon 21/06/09  

£110.00

Tsampa and butter tea will help with the essential heavy brass bell. Have a wonderful day. Donation by Peter Bennion 07/05/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Yak milk or lucozade in your drink bottle - tough choice huh? Donation by SARAH NEALE 25/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck - good on you running 10K! Donation by simon bullock 23/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Ginny Haythornthwaite 16/04/09  

£10.00

Hope you have your spring coat on! Donation by sumahlo 07/04/09  

£10.00

good luck, I hope the weather will be nice on the day. Donation by Dugdak 07/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

I don't believe the picture is you- this creature is far more majestic Donation by Gabriel Hartnell 07/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck - and well done! Donation by Jane Rasch 07/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Looking forward to seeing the herd in action ... who is the yak herder?! Donation by Philippa Carrick 06/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

you nut-case! Donation by hope 05/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Run as fast as your Yak legs will carry you! Sorry I don't have any tax money to donate, my studentness means I don't really pay any. Donation by Charlie Brown 31/03/09  

£20.00

You go Mallin monster!!!! Donation by Lynsey 19/03/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

if i had more in my pay pal acount you coud have it kid. Donation by stu llewellyn 19/03/09  

£4.00 + £1.13 Gift Aid

i think you'll make an amazing yak! Donation by lizzie e 13/03/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Go Katie! You are honoured to be a yak for the day, the most majestic of all creatures! Donation by Terry Bettger 13/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Go for it babes! Donation by John Hutchin 06/03/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £422.00
  Offline donations: £676.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £76.72

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