<div id="story" class="frp-message-body" style="height: auto;"> <p>Hi all,</p> <p>Firstly thanks for taking the time to visit our page. For the third year in a row, I (Jonathan) will be running the Great North Run this September to raise money and awareness for the United Movement to End Child Soldiering (<a href="http://www.endchildsoldiering.org/" target="_blank">www.endchildsoldiering.org</a>) This year I have recruited two others for the pad accross to Shields, my sister Emily, and my girlfriend Katy. Both Emily and I are board members for the charity which is very close to our hearts, while Katy was an innocent bystander who signed-up after a drunken bet!</p> <p>UMECS are a charity dedicated to building a culture of peace and fostering the education, rehabilitation and community reintegration of children and youth affected by conflict, particularly in Northern Uganda. Emily and I visited some of the charity's projects in summer '09 and were deeply touched by the work UMECS do to re-adjust affected children into society and promote peace education. Having visited some of children who's lives had been torn apart by the LRA&nbsp; (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lords_Resistance_Army" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lords_Resistance_Army</a>)and civil war;&nbsp; to see the effect that education had on their lives was genuinely inspirational. 13 miles is a short distance to run in comparison to the pain and suffering endured by these children.</p> <p>As mentioned, this is the third year I will be running for UMECS, and am pleased that the Swinfen Charitable Trust have agreed to be the Justgiving agent for donations. As UMECS is a Ugandan charity, they have chosen Swinfen as their UK counterpart to make donations easier via justgiving.com. PLEASE NOTE, ALL DONATIONS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO UMECS.</p> <p>Please donate generously. I'm aware this will not be the only request you receive this season, and ask you all to dig deep and think about us at mile 11! Thank you in advance for all your support, Christ knows we'll need it! Thanks also to Lord Swinfen and the Swinfen Charitable Trust for their continued support and agency.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>See you all at the finish!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Jonathan (Oki), Emily and Katy</p> <p><span class="whatsnew">&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;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&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p> <p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p> </div>