On Sunday September 20, I will once more pound the streets of Newcastle / South Shields on my 9 Great North Run. It is my annual ‘charity’ outing and, aside from keeping me training during the summer months, provides one opportunity a year to contribute something to a worthy cause. Each year, the members of staff at my company, UBC, choose the charity and this year it is ForDementia (www.fordementia.org.uk).
There is a lot of talk about the difficulty of charity fundraising in the current climate but I don’t buy that and I’m hoping for a record fundraising year. I think we are all looking for some opportunities to make a real difference at the moment and get some perspective on the important things in life. However big or small, any support you give me will go directly to making the lives of those with dementia and, more importantly, those around them, a great deal better.
Dementia is a condition which blights three or four healthy people for every one person who actually has it. The strain of caring for a relative or loved one with dementia can eat away at the very fabric of families and relationships. That’s where ForDementia come in. Their Admiral Nurses provide practical and emotional support for both the patient and their carers from the point of diagnosis to the period of bereavement.
Any donation you make will also put wind in my sails as I attempt to beat last years’ time of 1hr 46mins for the 13.1 miles. It is fun to run but it is seriously good to do it knowing that every step of the way counts to making someone else’s life a little better. Please support me.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
