Raised: 81%
Target: £500.00
Raised so far: £405.00
Donate now

My story

 
  • Hi, 

In less than two weeks I will attempt to run all the way from Newcastle City Centre to the seaside. The so called 'Great' North Run. Well it is in the north at least.  Anyway it's 21 and a bit kilometres and has some nasty uphill bits towards the end. 52,000 people are doing it and to be honest I don't expect to win.

However, given that I won't win, maybe I could raise a bit of money for a charity that has supported me and my family over the last three and a bit years, CLAPA.

My son Keir was born with a partial cleft of the palate.

A cleft palate occurs when the roof of the mouth has not joined completely. The back of the palate (towards the throat) is called the soft palate and the front (towards the mouth) is known as the hard palate. If you feel the inside of your mouth with your tonge, you will be able to notice the difference between the soft and the hard palate. A cleft palate can range from just an opening at the back of the soft palate to a nearly complete separation of the roof of the mouth (soft and hard palate). Keir had a cleft of the soft palate. 

Keir was lucky. Children who have a full cleft will have to have a serious of operations up until their teens as they have bone grafts and so on to reconstuct their jaw.

For full details check out the wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleft_lip_and_palate

This leads to difficulties feeding, breathing, learning to speak, hearing and so on. After his birth CLAPA's help and advice was invaluable in understanding the condition and what we could do to help Keir feed, speak and so on. The reassurance this provides is fantastic. 

Additionaly they have been superb in fostering a sense of community amongst parents of cleft children. They have both summer and winter parties at the hospital where Keir had his reconstructive surgery and are active in contacting parents are helping spread information.

The clapa website can be found on:  http://www.clapa.com/

I am sure most people who read this will be familiar with JustGiving, if not here is their speil:

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. 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. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.


I picked a purely arbritrary target of £500. Given that there is a week to this may be optimistic. Prove me wrong folks!


ps, how hard is the great north run? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4257630.stm

Well done Martyn ... keep on running. Donation by Kanwar 02/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

well done bro, sorry for the late donation!!! Donation by Chris Inglis 06/10/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Well done Martyn... How are the legs today? Donation by Johan 21/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

On behalf of Murray and Barbera Inglis - thanks! Donation by Martyn inglis 21/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

On behalf of Sandy and David Bartlet - thanks you guys! Donation by Martyn inglis 21/09/09  

£20.00

01:46:41 - bloody hell mate, great time! many congrats. london matathon 2010 for you. cheers. Donation by Robert Orr 21/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

You better have finished by now. Donation by Philip Wills 20/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

I trust you *are* running up to the starting line from home.... Have a great run! Donation by tackers 19/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck! Will look out for amongst the masses, from the comfort of my sofa ;) Donation by Dave Shaw 18/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Martyn, we'll be looking out for you on Sunday! Derek & Alison in Wales Donation by Alison Willmott 14/09/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

You need a medal. Good luck. Carol and John. Donation by Carol Boyd 14/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Martyn, Martyn, don't be slow. Run like Elvis, go man go. Good luck! Donation by Jane and Bill 14/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Martyn, run like the wind. xxx Donation by Lauren & Jason 11/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck, hope the weather is kind to you. Donation by David Rowley 11/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

See you all soon. Donation by Lynda Sage 11/09/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Howay the lad! Donation by Lovell 11/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good work, sir. I know you'll do well. Donation by MOB 11/09/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation by Sandra Inglis 10/09/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

good luck Martyn! Donation by Coleen & David 10/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Martyn, wishing you the "Speed of the Puma" Donation by Niraj Patel 10/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Go for it! Donation by Octavian Patrascoiu 10/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

It should be a walk in the park for a man of your talents Donation by Paul Clarke 10/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Do it really really fast. Donation by Julia Bellis 10/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Enjoy the run sir! Donation by Roberto 10/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck Martyn! x Donation by Alison McGregor 10/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Run, Martyn, run! Donation by Nik Silver 10/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Martyn Donation by Mat Wall 09/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
Donate now
 
* Total raised online: £405.00
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £108.59

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