<p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 24px;">Hi all as some of you may be aware I am running the Brighton Marathon this coming April and am looking for your very much needed support.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; color: #000000; line-height: normal;"> </span></p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">This will be the first major event I have participated in to raise money for any charity and to be running it for my chosen charity 'The Oscar Foundation', means a great deal to me and others...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">Last year my sister Rachael Tuffield and her husband Gary went through an ordeal that we would all pray and hope never happens to any parents. On the 7th March 2010 at 4.24pm, their son, Oscar Tuffield, was born. Sadly however, it was a still-birth as Oscar had passed away earlier that day due to an unexpected complication during the birthing process.</p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">Gary &amp; Rachael are a pretty amazing couple, and as they grieved and recovered, they did not want Oscar&rsquo;s passing to go in vain. They were determined to create, not only a memorial to Oscar, but a way of helping other children who are sick or under-privileged, and who are not getting the support they so desperately need.</p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;"><img class="size-medium wp-image-7 alignright" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; float: right; border-top-left-radius: 4px 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px 4px; padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #e7e8e6;" title="Kilimanjaro sign" src="http://paulropers.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/oscar.jpg?w=240&amp;amp;amp;amp;h=199&amp;amp;amp;amp;h=159" alt="Kilimanjaro sign" width="240" height="159"></p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">And so was born &lsquo;The Oscar Foundation&rsquo;, a registered charity committed to the sole aim of changing sick or under-privileged children&rsquo;s lives by offering support in any way they can, either by funding for medical treatment or simply a much needed home for those left abandoned on the street. They hope that every cause they fund will be life changing for the child or children involved.</p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">At the time, I had no words I could say to them to truly express my condolences, the whole thing seemed simply unimaginable and I was deeply moved. So when the opportunity came up to support the foundation, I didn&rsquo;t even need to think twice. I could not only raise funds for such a worthy cause, but also, DO something to support them in the memory of my nephew.</p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">So, when a friend asked me to run the Brighton Marathon with him, of course I agreed without thinking twice, something that now seems a little silly!</p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">The 42k (26mile) run around Brighton is only entering its 3rd year and has already become one of the biggest marathons in the UK. I am attempting to run the course in under 4 hours - aiming for 3 hours 50 minutes, which if I achieve will be a great achievement for myself having never run this distance previously.</p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">So, to sum things up I have a few months of long dark winter nights of training now to get myself fit and ready and to raise my personal target of &pound;1,000 towards this great cause. This target could be achieved via generous donations of small amounts and ANY amount of sponsorship would be greatly appreciated and I beg you to dig as deep as possible in helping me support, not only the foundation, but more importantly, Rachael, Gary &amp; Oscar.</p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">You can donate via my&nbsp;just giving&nbsp;page, which is the best way to donate as, assuming you are a UK tax payer, gift-aid can be claimed on top of your donation increasing the amount you give at no extra cost to you.</p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">Thanking you all in advance for your very appreciated donations,</p> <p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-size: 13px; color: #555555; font-family: &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">Scott</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>