Story
<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. As you will know by now I am taking part in the Virgin London Marathon next April for the first time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Since I started running just over 3 years ago I have taken part in quite a few races and raised money for various charities but this one is the mother of all races and I am so excited..... very nervous, but excited all the same!</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">I have chosen to raise money for Barnardos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this charity in memory of my late Grandfather who was a Barnardo’s boy during the 1920's.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of 14 children, he and his younger brother were sent from their home town of Lowestoft to a Barnardos home for boys in the East End of London.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was here that he learned his trade of a baker; a profession that was to see him through to his retirement and took him to faraway places serving on ships in the Navy during the war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After leaving Barnardos he returned to Suffolk where he met and married my nan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually they moved to Norwich and lived the rest of their lives in Hellesdon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandad worked for many years at Hellesdon Hospital as Head Baker until his retirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Grandad was one of the nicest, kindest men you could possibly meet and family was of the utmost importance to him and I’m quite sure that many of this values were learned from his time spent at the home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know he would have been very proud <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that I am running for such a worthwhile cause and I'm sure he will be with me on the day...</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">Today, there are no longer any Barnardos homes but Thomas Barnardo’s work continues through the charity to help transform the lives of vulnerable children, young people and their families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dealing with issues such as drug abuse, sexual abuse, poverty and being a young carer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With over 800 projects throughout the UK the work of Barnardo continues on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please visit <a href="http://www.barnardos.org.uk">www.barnardos.org.uk</a> for more information about the fantastic work they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>95p of every £1 raised goes directly to helping these vulnerable children, young people and their families. As a mum to three beautiful children, I am very conscious of how different things can be for some kids and I am really pleased to be doing this to help in some small way.....</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">May I thank you in advance if you are able to part with some of your hard earned to help me raise as much as I possibly can.</p>
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<p>Please, please, please help me raise £2000, if you can.... Lisa xxx</p>