Friends, family, work colleagues, fellow writers, people I accidentally e-mailed because I mis-typed an address, and random bored people who have found their way here....

... welcome.

On May 26th 2008 I'm taking part in a 10,000 metre road race.  That's about 8,000 metres more than I've ever run in my life before, at least in one go.  And, although I do have the odd little masochistic tendency, I'm not just running the 10k because I like running to total exhaustion.  No, if I'm going to have a heart attack, collapse at the finish line and require hospitalisation, then other people might as well get the benefit of it, right?

So, I'm running on behalf of the British Red Cross.  If you want to know more about what the British Red Cross are all about, take a look left ("About my charity: British Red Cross").

Nice people, aren't they?  And you know what, you don't have to be British to support the goals that the British Red Cross stand for.  Because they are humanitarian goals - simple, decent and just goals that anyone with a heart can agree with.  So cough up, it's for charity!

I'm sure the good people at JustGiving are able to convert whatever currency you care to throw at them, so wherever you are on the planet, whatever your currency, please give, and give generously.  Dollars (US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand), Euros, Pounds, Yen.  Whatever you've got, I'll gratefully take.  But don't bankrupt yourself - only give what you can afford.  I'd rather get £1 from 600 people than have a friend give more than they should.

If you're giving from overseas, remember that the amount you give will be the amount in Pounds Sterling, not your local currency.  To get an idea of how much it will cost you, make sure you use a currency convertor like this one.

And please remember, if you are UK resident, then remember to go for the Gift Aid option.  This means that any tax on your donation goes straight back to the charity, and not into government coffers.  This means more money for charity, and a marginally lower tax bill for you.  It's win-win all round!

For further information about the race itself, check out the official race site.  And if anybody happens to be in London on the day itself, come along and see if you can spot me and cheer me on.

Wish me luck, and remember - the very fact that you can see this webpage means that you are far better off than the people that the money I raise will go to help.  So please, please, please be as generous as you can.

Thanks everyone.

Paul

***UPDATE***
For those of you on Facebook, you can join the Official Facebook Group, "I need your money!!!  BUPA 10,000 - 26 May 2008".

And if you are really, really, really interested, there is allegedly a training diary here.