Ok, so Laura said 2007 would be her last Marathon, that was until Matthew came to support her and was so inspired by the whole event that he foolishly said "the only way to see the London Marathon is to run it!"

So its Laura's third and Matthew's first. Laura knows what to expect, Matthew doesn't and he's pretty scared right now, but they have both been training hard since July last year through late summer warmth, autumn rain and gales, winter cold and dark to emerge in the warming spring fully fit and ready to go for the 2008 Flora London Marathon. They have been training together relentlessly (surely a great test of any relationship!) both on south coast beach runs and on overseas trips.

So what is it all about.... personal achievement and the opportunity to raise money for a fantastic and indispensible organisation, the RNLI.

These guys do an amazing job. They are volunteers. They are the number 1 emergency service of our coastline and waters, so the next time you are sitting at home at night relaxing with a bottle of wine whilst there is a howling force 8 gale blowing outside with 20ft seas, can you only imagine what it is like on the coast when these guys are going off to work to save someone's life? They receive no money unless it comes from charitable donations. These guys will come and rescue any one of us 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and this is an emergency service we cannot do without. True heroes.

Ok, so what's this marathon lark all about? Clearly not what Jade Goody had in mind!!! Laura and Matthew will have done 9 months of serious training to run 26.2 miles to raise £4200 which will pay for one major launch from Selsey lifeboat station deploying all of their available equipment to save maybe just one life. Is it worth it.......... Absolutely YES!! It could be your life or someone you know. And if you think Matthew and Laura are going to run the London Marathon for less than £1 a mile you must be joking!!! Put it in the context of what it costs for a round of drinks on a night out....

Here's our request in the inimitable style of Bob Geldof's 1985 Live Aid campaign....... "Just give us the f@*&ing money" because if you don't we will keep sending you this email until you do!!



Lots of love and thanks,

Matthew and Laura xxx

The boring bit - Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution 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 us now! Many thanks for your support.