Story
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #0066ff;" lang="EN-US">Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving Page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have secured a place in the </span></em></strong><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #c00000;" lang="EN-US">Virgin London Marathon on 17 April 2011.</span></em></strong><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #0066ff;" lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be running to raise both awareness and vital funds for </span></em></strong><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #7030a0;" lang="EN-US">CMT United</span></em></strong><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #7030a0;" lang="EN-US"> <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kingdom</strong></span></em><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #0066ff;" lang="EN-US">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></em></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #0066ff;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #7030a0;" lang="EN-US">Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT)</span></em></strong><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;" lang="EN-US"> </span></em><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #0066ff;" lang="EN-US">is a condition that damages the peripheral nerves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These nerves run from the spinal cord to the extremities and are responsible for passing on commands from the brain to the muscles in the arms and legs, and for passing information back to the brain about sensations, such as pain, heat, cold and touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of the nerve damage, people with CMT may find that their muscles become slowly weaker over the years, particularly in their hands and feet, and the sense of feeling can become duller or numb in the same areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The condition is also known as Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy or rarely Peroneal Muscular Atrophy.</span></em></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #0066ff;" lang="EN-US">The decision to run the London Marathon for CMT United Kingdom was an easy one. (Although actually completing the marathon might be another matter!!!). A close family member, my cousin, has suffered from this condition all her life and has required a number of operations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the age of thirty seven she has just started undergoing genetic testing to identify the exact type of this condition she has, which again highlights the need for further funding for research</span></em></strong><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #0066ff;" lang="EN-US">.</span></em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #0066ff;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #0066ff;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;">Training for the big day is well underway and your support is very much appreciated and will help me achieve every mile in preparation and on the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you. Marie</span></span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: #6600cc;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;">Donating through JustGiving is a simple, fast and totally secure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted e-mails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.</span></span></em></strong></p>