Story
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page for the 2005 London Marathon. Please read below.
Fact File
What: 26+ miles
When: April 17 2005
Where: London
Why: £3600+ for my charity (DIBF)
Who: David Gordon, 34, crazy Scotsman
Career History: BUPA 10k Challenges 96-98, London Marathon 1999
Target Time: 3-6 hours Personal Best: Most of Sunday! Sporting Heroes: Sir Steve Redgrave, Ernie Els, Andy Irvine. What on earth is this all about I hear you say? This year I'm running for the Dyslexia Institute Bursary Fund (DIBF) - a cause close to my heart. With your help I hope to raise over £3600. The price of 2 scholarships for kids who need specialist teaching and equipment. Without it they will struggle to overcome their learning difficulties. Did you know that 10% of people in the UK are dyslexic? Dyslexia has a number of symtoms. These include reading and writing difficulties, speech impediments and short term memory loss. It impacts on self esteem, the abililty to carry out basic tasks and for some can severely inhibit learning key skills. What does it feel like? If you imagine the brain is your computer - then it's like a brain with not enough RAM (short term memory). When too much information is inputted too quickly the dyslexic brain malfunctions. The sufferer cannot make sense of what they are seeing or hearing. There isn't enough core brain function left to do the processing. It's like when your computer is overloaded some programmes try to shut down. In extreme cases, the Dyslexic suddenly can't spell, can't write accurately, can't remember what has just been said to them. They get confused, muddled and made to look foolish. I'm lucky my symptoms are only ever mild. Think of the ones who are not so lucky. Each year the Dyslexia Institute helps children from underpriviledged backgrounds. 53% come from lone parent families and 42% are on income support. Meanwhile the costs of education and equipment spiral. What happens if these kids don't get support? The statistics make grim reading. 20% of the long term unemployed have learning difficulties including dyslexia. 50% of crimes committed have dyslexia as a contributory factor. Business as a whole loses £1 billion per year by not providing for dyslexic employees. In short a small donation now will help those that can't help themselves and help tackle other major problems. To provide 1 child with tuition for 1 year costs £1800. The Charity is exactly that. It depends entirely on third party funding. That's you and me. Without the money, the children that DIBF help will never be able to fulfill their potential. Will never have a normal life. Will never take their full part in society. I know that there are many other deserving causes. There is also a lot of suffering. Boxing Day this year reminded us all of that. But PLEASE help me to help the DIBF. Help them to overcome the challenges of the children who can't help themselves. Who knows who will become a star? They might be the next, Einstein, Winston Churchill, Richard Branson, Jackie Stewart? (who were themselves all dyslexics.) Please help give that child a chance..... - and to paraphrase Sir Bob Geldof - GIVE ME THE MONEY - NOW! Many thanks for your support. David Gordon PS Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Dyslexia Institute Bursary Fund will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
Fact File
What: 26+ miles
When: April 17 2005
Where: London
Why: £3600+ for my charity (DIBF)
Who: David Gordon, 34, crazy Scotsman
Career History: BUPA 10k Challenges 96-98, London Marathon 1999
Target Time: 3-6 hours Personal Best: Most of Sunday! Sporting Heroes: Sir Steve Redgrave, Ernie Els, Andy Irvine. What on earth is this all about I hear you say? This year I'm running for the Dyslexia Institute Bursary Fund (DIBF) - a cause close to my heart. With your help I hope to raise over £3600. The price of 2 scholarships for kids who need specialist teaching and equipment. Without it they will struggle to overcome their learning difficulties. Did you know that 10% of people in the UK are dyslexic? Dyslexia has a number of symtoms. These include reading and writing difficulties, speech impediments and short term memory loss. It impacts on self esteem, the abililty to carry out basic tasks and for some can severely inhibit learning key skills. What does it feel like? If you imagine the brain is your computer - then it's like a brain with not enough RAM (short term memory). When too much information is inputted too quickly the dyslexic brain malfunctions. The sufferer cannot make sense of what they are seeing or hearing. There isn't enough core brain function left to do the processing. It's like when your computer is overloaded some programmes try to shut down. In extreme cases, the Dyslexic suddenly can't spell, can't write accurately, can't remember what has just been said to them. They get confused, muddled and made to look foolish. I'm lucky my symptoms are only ever mild. Think of the ones who are not so lucky. Each year the Dyslexia Institute helps children from underpriviledged backgrounds. 53% come from lone parent families and 42% are on income support. Meanwhile the costs of education and equipment spiral. What happens if these kids don't get support? The statistics make grim reading. 20% of the long term unemployed have learning difficulties including dyslexia. 50% of crimes committed have dyslexia as a contributory factor. Business as a whole loses £1 billion per year by not providing for dyslexic employees. In short a small donation now will help those that can't help themselves and help tackle other major problems. To provide 1 child with tuition for 1 year costs £1800. The Charity is exactly that. It depends entirely on third party funding. That's you and me. Without the money, the children that DIBF help will never be able to fulfill their potential. Will never have a normal life. Will never take their full part in society. I know that there are many other deserving causes. There is also a lot of suffering. Boxing Day this year reminded us all of that. But PLEASE help me to help the DIBF. Help them to overcome the challenges of the children who can't help themselves. Who knows who will become a star? They might be the next, Einstein, Winston Churchill, Richard Branson, Jackie Stewart? (who were themselves all dyslexics.) Please help give that child a chance..... - and to paraphrase Sir Bob Geldof - GIVE ME THE MONEY - NOW! Many thanks for your support. David Gordon PS Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Dyslexia Institute Bursary Fund will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.