Raised: 59%
Target: £4,000.00
Raised so far: £2,356.68
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My story

 

update 3 november

well, I completed the marathon in good time. my (unpublished!) target was 3:30 and I came in at 3:26:14. I surprised myself because my training was not a very smooth progression. but raceday was cool (33F) and still. the course was flat and fast. the support along the way was vocal, enduring and very positive. pretty much everything went well so I had a fantastic experience. all it missed was chetana and the kids being there to share it. but as janet pointed out, the support of the family and especially chetana was what made it all possible. 

and the support of my friends who have donated so generously has been breathtaking. THANK YOU!

and the donations are still rolling in..... so if you haven't already, please do take this opportunity to give something to the lily foundation and help it in its challenge to understand & cure mitochondrial disease.

stephen

 

update 30 september

starting to think about the weather forecast, rather than training runs. i've come through shin splints and feel pretty fit though i did have to ease off the training for 2 weeks at the start of september and have been easier on myself the last fortnight. just hope the stamina work was enough.

july 2009

I last ran a marathon in 1999. It was the London marathon and at the time I was 30 and it was "my first and my last" marathon. That seems like a lifetime ago which must explain why this year, with 1999 well and truely forgotten, I decided I would put myself through it all again and I signed up for the Chicago marathon. The event is on 11 October.

This time I have an extra incentive to see me through the days, weeks and months of training. Dave and Lizzie founded the Lily Foundation less than two years ago and launched the charity at the start of 2008 following the death of 8 month old baby Lily to mitochondrial disease. It has been inspirational to see what they have achieved in such a short time – have a look at the Foundation’s website which has some fantastic messages of support and thanks. Also have a look at the short video link that is available from this page.

It really helps me to know that by the time I cross the finishing line on 11 October, I will have raised, with your generous support, a substantial amount of money to help the charity achieve its objectives. These are to fund research, train doctors and support families with sick children.

Please think big.

You will not only be helping me to complete the 26.2 miles in Chicago. You will also be helping me get through all those training runs. On the Saturday morning before the event, when Jay and I trot along an easy 2 miles by Lake Michigan, I will have completed over 600 miles of running since the beginning of July. As I write this there’s only 362 of those miles left, 388.2 if you include the marathon! So please match the scale of the marathon through the size of your donation!

As I'm sure you know, 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.

So please dig deep and donate now.

 

Well done Stephen. Hope you can still walk... Donation by Guy Bigwood 03/11/09  

£30.00

Great effort! Well done Stephen. Donation by Mark Bannister 02/11/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Now I know why we saw you pounding around Hove Park!! Well done looks like a very worthwhile cause. Alan Donation by Alan Holmes 19/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Donation by Sherryl Scott 16/10/09  

Well done Stephen, a magnificent achievement, but Chetana wins the Oscar for Best Supporting Role! Donation by Family Haji 11/10/09  

£50.00

Best of luck & see you on the 13th for a beer or two. Donation by Mark Cooper 11/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Anita Oza 09/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation by Graham Osborne 09/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

GOOD LUCK DADDY. HOPE YOU REACH YOUR TARGET. LOVE YOU!!!! Donation by TALA, TATE, REID, PREM 08/10/09  

£11.01 + £3.11 Gift Aid

Stephen best wishes with the marathon and admiration for training and running for a good cause!! Donation by Michelle Schafer 08/10/09  

£62.00

Have a good time Stephen Donation by Bill Goodier 07/10/09  

£34.00 + £9.59 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Shabana Mirza 07/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck in Chicago, just a warm up for the Brighton Marathon ? Donation by David Bickers 07/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck; have fun - good cause. Take an iPod Donation by Jonathan Bouchier 07/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Enjoy, you lunatic! Not sure whether to envy or feel sorry for you. You're doing great for Lily. Good luck xxx Donation by Mandy Pearce 06/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

All the best Stephen. Hope you're always down the wind Donation by Russell Fothergill 06/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Fantastic effort Stephen! Good Luck! Donation by Luke and Louise Tanzer 06/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Bonne chance. Enjoy it. Donation by Veronique Chenu 06/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck Stephen Donation by Jane Macleod 06/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

As someone who struggles to run 10k, I'm most impressed. Good luck on the day. Donation by James Troughton 06/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck in the windy city Stephen Donation by Gary Stanley 06/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Stephen and remember "The Wall" is only in your mind !! Donation by Hugh Stevenage 06/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck Stephen Donation by Philip Richardson 06/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

good luck! Donation by stephen novak 05/10/09  

Good luck on the day. Just think how many cakes you can eat afterwards. From the Morrison family. Donation by Juliet Morrison 05/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

All those hours of training will pay off on the big day I'm sure - go Stephen! from the Leckie's Donation by Ellen Leckie 05/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Stephen, hopefully the wind in the windy city will be behind you ! Good luck Donation by Andrew White 05/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good Luck! Donation by Emily O'Brien 05/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

The cider-drinkers of the world salute you Donation by Fraser Henry 05/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Best of luck Stephen Donation by Gregory Overton 05/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £1,479.02
  Offline donations: £877.66
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £346.08

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