Raised: 164%
Target: £1,000.00
Raised so far: £1,642.00
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My story

 
Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

I ran in the Reading Half Marathon earlier this year. It was fun... in a way... I suppose. But after I finished I said I was never going to run again, ever.  Retire on top and all of that. Then a friend bet me that I couldn't complete a marathon, and, owing to a sense of pride that has gotten me into trouble before, I now find myself sat in my bedroom slightly nauseous from the worry that in April next year I have to run 26 miles around London.

Still, I thought I'd try and make the best of a worrying situation and so have decided to raise money for Plantlife International. Plantlife is a charity dedicated exclusively to conserving all forms of plant life in their natural habitats, in the UK, Europe and across the world. They act directly to rescue wild plants on the brink of extinction, to protect sites of exceptional botanical importance and to stop common wild plants becoming rare in the wild.

Whilst most of you will realise this is a charity close to my heart, my reasons for raising money for them extend beyond my own affections.

Twenty-five percent of all pharmaceutical drugs, and 50% of the most common prescription drugs come from plants, for example, apsrin comes from poplar and aspen trees and morphine from opium poppies. Some of the most promising drugs for tackling cancer also come from wild plants. The rosy periwinkle (whose habitat in Madagascar is exceptionally threatened) produces an alkaloid which retards the progression of childhood lukemia and Hogkinson's disease. Similarly, taxol, an alkaloid produced by our native yew tree can be used to treat ovarian cancer. There may be hundreds if not thousands of other chemicals that can be extracted from undiscovered or understudied plants that could treat a range of illnesses.


In addition, wild plants provide an invaluable and irreplaceable genetic resouce for our food crops, three of which (rice, wheat and maize) contribute over 50% of the world's nutritional needs. The genetic diversity that wild plants hold is vital for combaiting future diseases. For example, in 1970, grassy stunt virus desimated India's rice crop and genetic resistance to the virus was found in just one of the 6,200 species of wild rice. In the same year, genetic resistance for corn blight - which had destroyed 15% the the US maize crop - was found in the lat remaining wild maize inhabiting a critically endangered Mexican habitat.

Asides from those utilitarian benefits, plants are the basis for all terrestrial ecosystems and are, either directly or indirectly, responsible for the astonishing diversity of life on the planet and the breathtaking places that we love the most.

I would therefore be thoroughly appreciative if you could spare any funds you can in sponsoring me in this year's marathon.

 

So please sponsor me if you can afford to do so and help raise money for a worthwhile charity. 

Thank you

If you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Amazing time- really well done! Donation by Gina 11/05/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

nice one vegan matt :) Donation by Abi 08/05/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Nice one Matt, great going! Donation by Neil and Marina 30/04/09  

£15.00

Total respect runnig that far, Go for it Dopey! Donation by Andy & Sue 25/04/09  

£26.00 + £7.33 Gift Aid

All the best - I'll see you at the finish. (If you're not too far in front of me !) Donation by Martin Jeffery 22/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

a pound per mile buddy! don't give up! Donation by Captain Careful 20/04/09  

£26.00 + £7.33 Gift Aid

skiing would be easier! Donation by Brenda Woods 18/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck! I will look out for the running fern! lol Donation by Cassie 04/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Rather you than me! Ill be on the finish line with cake! Donation by xHannahx 31/03/09  

£10.00

Good Luck - I know you will make it! Donation by Barbara Cradock 30/03/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck mate. We know you can do it!!! Donation by Monkfish & Ugly 29/03/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Always suspected you were potty Donation by Jon & Alison 28/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good Luck matt, hope you reach your target! Donation by mark & penny 25/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Matthew will will look out for you as we usually go and watch my cousin. Donation by Alan and Bev 13/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

its true all my best friends are plants. Good luck mr Dowse Donation by MattB 13/03/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Good Luck!! Donation by Bini and Philip 12/03/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck, we shall get to see you at as many points as possible, you deserve to do well having put in so much hard work with the training x Donation by Chris (Mum) 11/03/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Good luck Dowser! Anything under 3 hours would be okay!!! Very proud of you. Donation by John (Dad) 11/03/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Good luck Matt Donation by The Cabbages 07/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

I believe squash is a type of plant. I'll see you at the finish-line a couple of hours after you finish I think! Donation by Jez 11/02/09  

£10.00

Good on you hun!! I'll pop into London to cheer you on!!! Donation by Rachel 09/02/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Katy set the pace last year, Matt , so aim high! Donation by Mary & Lewis 05/02/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

I'm sold on your blurb - go for it Matt Donation by Patrick 27/11/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Well done Matt! Donation by Socrates and Caroline 21/09/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

I hope you can smash your target, I love plants too. Good luck mate. Donation by Nick and Jo 16/09/08  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Good luck Matt. I'd come and jog round with you, but you know that old knee injury... Donation by Hugh 14/09/08  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Hope you win the bet and raise lots of money for the charity. Good luck with the training Donation by Chris and Jo 12/09/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £687.00
  Offline donations: £955.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £183.90

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