Raised: 187%
Target: £2,000.00
Raised so far: £3,734.60
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My story

 

                    Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!

What a difference a year makes.  On the morning of the 2008 Flora London Marathon I woke up feeling a tad delicate on my friend Stu's couch, then had to jink around runners (easier said than done!) whilst crossing Commercial Road to get home.  Fast forward to the 2009 event and I shall be one of those runners having to dodge the unwashed, drunken stop-outs who are staggering home across the route... Who'd have thunk it!

Yes, my good mate Graeme and I are running the 2009 Flora London Marathon on Sunday 26th April (his page is here).  Setting aside the 26.2 miles of pain on the big day for now, we are looking at 15 weeks of training - which so far has involved sub-zero temperatures, snow, sleet, ice and rain - over 430 miles of running (seriously!) and - the biggest sacrifice of all - no booze for nearly 4 months!  (well, maybe the odd one, no-ones perfect...)

Obviously we aren't just doing it for a laugh... the marathon is all about raising money for worthy charities and I am both delighted and proud to be running on behalf of Bag Books (www.bagbooks.org).  This amazing organisation is the only one in the world that publishes and promotes the use of multi-sensory story packs for people with the most profound and severe learning disabilities.  I asked my Mum, who has had first-hand experience of Bag Books, for a comment and she had this to say:

"As a teacher of pupils with special needs, nothing has given me greater pleasure and delight than observing their responses to a Bag Books story.  The clever use of sensory materials to stimulate sight, sound, touch and smell really support and extend communication skills whilst providing the kids with a thrilling experience".

And believe me, my Mum is always right.

If you still aren't convinced then how about this... donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Bag Books gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.  Everyone's a winner!

So if you want to make me as happy as I am in that cheesy picture on the left then please sponsor me now.  Any donation, no matter how big or small, will be wholeheartedly appreciated by myself and the folks at Bag Books.

Cheers,

Neil

Well done Neil! Donation by Uncle Robin & Aunt Margaret 18/06/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Well done mate - can't believe I've only just got round to this, but better late than never, eh! Donation by Andy P 18/05/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Been meaning to do this for ages..well done! Donation by Carol Nicholls 14/05/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Never thought I'd see the day!!! Congratulations, as always, you did yourself proud. xxx Donation by Amanda 01/05/09  

£26.20 + £7.39 Gift Aid

WELL DONE NIEL, WE HAD SUCH A FUN DAY WATCHING YOU IN THE MARATHON. SORRY WE COULDN'T STAY TIL THE END. HOPE YOU BEAT THE GIANT TRAINER:) Donation by PAUL AND JULIE ABBY AND JONATHAN 29/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done mate, all good ping-pong training! Donation by Matt 28/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done matey! Looked fresh at the finish line too...back again next year? Donation by Craig & Ali 27/04/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

From our friends, Sheila and Russell Donation by Jim & Anne 27/04/09  

£5.00

Well done Neil, good effort mate! Donation by Ian Stewart 27/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done! Donation by Tim Cope 26/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

good luck mate see you at the finish line! Donation by floydy 25/04/09  

£26.00 + £7.33 Gift Aid

All the best mate - fantastic effort! Donation by Aidan & Diane 25/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Im backing G for this but im sure you could play dirty and beat him. Good Luck mate! Donation by Steven "Angry Boy" Milne 25/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck for Sunday xxx Donation by Diane Mensah 24/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Am sure the thought of unlimited cool beers after the finish will keep you going! Fair dues and best of luck! Donation by Brian Bunyan 24/04/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Good Luck!!! Donation by Marcella 24/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

All the Fred West mate. I'll see you at the bar when you finish. Donation by John McLean 24/04/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Good luck for Sunday mate, I'm sure you and the G man will nail it! Donation by Simon Gorman 24/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best of Luck Neil- See you guys after its over! Donation by EOIN AND HANNAH 24/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck mate! Donation by bruce williams 24/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

good luck Donation by Mark Chaplin 24/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Patch the nipples! Have fun! Donation by Anthony and Veryan 23/04/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Feel the (Co) burn. Goo dluck mate. Donation by Coops 23/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Best of luck Neil your a brave man! Donation by Alasdair + Catherine 22/04/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Best of luck mate, sorry I can't gift aid it. It's a bugger not paying UK tax (or any tax for that matter) Donation by Scott Gemmell 22/04/09  

£26.20

Good luck buddy, I'll be standing looking out the window for you and G! Donation by Wai-kay Chan 22/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Best of Luck. I will know your pain come River Ness Marathon in October! Donation by Andy Hunter 21/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hope you've got a sturdy sports bra Donation by Iain Davidson 21/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Don't do a Paula Radcliffe Donation by Stephen Thomas 21/04/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Best of luck Neil Donation by Christeen & Bill Young 21/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £3,734.60
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £868.60

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