Hello again

Well, I’m still alive! And I completed the run in exactly an hour. I was breathless and red-faced afterwards as promised (see picture) but also surprisingly proud of my achievement. Not sure I will be repeating the experience though!

It was a great spur to know that every kilometre I ran would be raising £55+ for MRDF – so many thanks to everyone who sponsored me. If you didn’t get round to doing it before, it’s not too late – just click the donate button or send me a cheque (payable to MRDF) or give me some cash when you next see me.

Thanks again,
Simeon.

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Hello

If you know me well, you will know I'm not very into sport. Or keeping fit. Or any kind of exercise. In fact, until a few weeks ago, the only running I'd done for 20 years was to catch trains. And I usually didn't even manage that.

You may also know that earlier this year I started working for the Methodist Relief and Development Fund, a small charity that helps people in some of the world's poorest communities to improve their lives. It's a great organisation, highly effective and efficient, and making a really tangible difference to the lives of individuals in need, regardless of their religion or race. I got to see its impact first-hand on a trip to South Asia's poorest country, Nepal, in May. It also vitally supports efforts to challenge the causes of poverty and injustice.

So I'm putting aside the bad habits of half a lifetime, and taking on the challenge of running the London 10k on 12 July. And I'm hoping you might sponsor me to run for MRDF. 

I know it's not the best time to be asking some of you for money. Credit crunch and all that. But I can promise you anything you are able to give will make a real difference to people who are most vulnerable to the impact of the economic crisis. And it'll also spur me on to do that extra bit of training, that may prove the difference between complete humiliation and just a mildly embarrassing performance (if that's actually a disincentive, please ignore the last sentence. No matter what happens I will probably still be rubbish, red-faced and out of breath for a week afterwards).

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. They’ll never sell your details on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to MRDF and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate, saving time and cutting costs for MRDF.

Thanks for your support.