Training is beginning to get serious now; new trainers have been purchased costing more than my entire wardrobe of clothes, and the Nike pro-forma, non-sweat , no nipple chafe vests have been donned to get us through sub-zero temperatured runs.

26.2 miles didn't sound too ominous a distance until i ran seven the other day and subsequently passed out with the agony of calf strain finally realising that it might not actually be so easy. But by April 13th i intend to line up next to Paula Radcliffe and the gang and hopefully experience all sorts of new kinds of pain in an effort to complete the race.

So why go through the training, the pain and sacrifice hours of Neighbours, Home & Away and the Simpsons?

The reason is this: 

People's lives can be totally transformed after a spinal injury. A car accident, a sporting injury or perhaps merely a fall on a slippery floor and suddenly life can be changed, the independence and mobility that many take for granted robbed away.

The original shock of losing mobility can be devastating and originally people can find it extremely hard to consider a future lifestyle.

Consequently ASPIRE's projects and services have a very simple goal - to provide the support needed to take such people from injury to independence.

Aspire offers support through practical solutions for people facing new injuries, as well as providing technology, assistance, training and advice depending on a person's particular situation, and the specific results that they want to achieve.

The key area that Aspire emphasises is independent living, and so through assistive technology such as custom made computers and specially created sports facilities; through the provision of adapted housing to support people whilst their own homes are transformed; and with extensive research into new technologies that will benefit disabled people, the opportunity for people to regain total independence is becoming more and more of a reality.

Aspire clearly deserve all the support that they can get, not only to help continue to support disabled people but so that facilities and technology offered can improve even beyond the amazing range currently offered.

So please take this opportunity to make a donation to a fantastic charity, and i really do appreciate all of your support.

To have a look yourself watch this clip and browse the website: http://www.aspire.org.uk/aboutus/AspireVideo.aspx

Many thanks to all of you, now back to training (. . . . . and what have i done with the vaseline again, damn nipples!!)

Loz Dace