Run Marcus, Run!

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and help raise loads of money for the Pattaya Orphanage Trust by sponsoring me in the HALSTEAD Marathon on May 14th.

All money raised goes direct to the orphanage to help them provide care for hundreds of children.  And every penny counts. So please join in and support them as much as you can.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Pattaya Orphanage Trust 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 and put some smiles on some little Thai faces!

Many thanks for your support.

Marcus

Update:

15/May/06
Three Hours, 56 Minutes, 37 Seconds!

Thank you, thank you to everyone who has sponsored the run and helped make this possible. Without the support, good wishes and encouragement of so many people I doubt I would have been able to get round that course. Thank you so much.

And thank you on behalf of the Pattaya Orphanage Trust. You've done a good thing by raising so much money for such a good cause. Thank you. And congratulations to you.

It's not too late to donate if you'd still like to. Anything you can afford would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

17/April/06
My 'training' couldn't be worse. I kept running on that smashed ankle and did it no good at all. Finally, last week, I couldn't even stand in the shower; it was so painful. And by just walking to work the muscles felt blood-clogged and tight.

I've bought myself a bike and, whilst unable to run, have been on some long fast cycle trips to maintain my fitness and work some different muscle groups. But it's just not the same and there's only four weeks to go.

And yet I've never been happier in my life.

As you know if you're on my mailing list, read my blog, or visit the Thailand-UK site, I've just discovered Dao's going to have a baby! A little brother for Knot and a perfect 40th birthday present for me. As Packpao said, it's one more to cheer me on to the finishing line!

So what I've lost through injury and lack of fitness I'll make up in sheer joy. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me, and if you haven't, please think about it. It's for a very very good cause.

Update:

24/March/06
Blinded by a car on a country lane late one night earlier this month, I hit the curb and badly smashed my left ankle. This was followed by two whole weeks unable to run and only now am I managing to hobble back to fitness!

However, there are still seven weeks and two days to go and - with care and luck - I should still be able to complete the marathon. But no promises regarding my time!

I've had so much support from so many people. Thank you to all my friends and all the members of the Thailand-UK.com community who have donated or pledged donations. You have done a good thing. Thank you.

If you haven't donated yet, please don't wait! Seeing the total amount raised is what gives me the fuel to get out there on this dodgy ankle of mine and run!

Please do sponsor me if you can, every penny goes to The Pattaya Orphanage and transforms the lives of hundreds of children. Thank you.

Essential Links:

The Pattaya Orphanage Trust: http://www.pattayaorphanage.org.uk/news/news_pattaya.cfm

Thailand-UK.com
 http://thailand-uk.com/groupee/forums/
The one and only. Thank you for all the support over so many years.

Ajarn.com
http://ajarnforum.net/phpbb/index.php
Thailand's Teacher and Ex-Pat Forum.

Jenny
http://www.justgiving.com/jennykelly 
Thank you for the inspiration.

Thank You to everyone who has sponsored me on behalf of the children at The Pattaya Orphanage Trust.