Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving web page.
This year, together with my Wife and Daughter, I am trying to raise at least £2500 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
You may be aware that for some events Marie Curie offer a contribution to (effectively a refund of) trip costs based on the amount raised. I want you to know however that we have opted out of any entitlement to that contribution, so that if we raise £2500 that is what will go to Marie Curie.
Marie Curie Cancer Care provides high quality nursing totally free, to give terminally ill people the choice of dying at home supported by their families. Your local Marie Curie Hospice actively promotes quality of life for people with cancer and provides support for their families. The services are completely free to patients. World class scientists at the Marie Curie Research Institute are investigating how cancer develops to find better ways of treating the disease in the future.
Our family, like so may others, has been touched by cancer recently, my Mother-in Law having died of the disease a short time after diagnosis. Through that experience we have seen and felt the devastating effects this disease can have, but we have also been privileged to have experienced at first hand the extraordinary generosity of care and and support given to patients and their families at the Marie Curie Hospice at Fairmilehead in Edinburgh, and we want to show our thanks by raising funds for them.
My contribution to the fundraising effort was to run the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday 1 November 2009. This was my third marathon (London - 2001; Loch Ness - 2007) and, as expected, it was a very memorable occasion - all the more so as my Wife and Daughter were there to support me and share the experience. Conditions on the day were pretty good - overcast but dry, about 50-55 and not too windy. I really enjoyed the first half of the race - I will never forget the fantastic support, vocal and musical, all the way through Brooklyn - a really quite emotional experience. Around 15-16 miles things started to get a bit tougher, and I felt the climb up Queensboro Bridge (one of the few places the crowds could not support you). I picked up and was running well approaching 17 miles (where I enjoyed my first family cheers and whistles) but from 19 miles onwards I felt my legs were getting heavy, and the long uphill stretch out of the Bronx towards Central Park seemed to go on for ever. It was a relief to get a downhill stretch into Central Park and high fives from my Wife and Daughter at mile 24 gave be a boost for the final push. By this stage I felt I was having to dragging my legs each step of the way and having the last half mile uphill seemed almost cruel. I have to admit I was very relieved to cross the finish line, and as I recovered I began to feel quite elated. My chip time per the New York Times was 3:30:52, which I am very happy with.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported us in this fundraising effort, both financially and by their encouragement and friendship. We have not yet reached our target, but still hope to do so before this fundraising page closes (on 1 February 2010).
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.
Best wishes
Stephen
