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Hi everyone,

    Yes I know, its another email asking you to give to charity because someone you know is doing something to raise some funds for this charity or chat, but before you politely ignore my request to sponsor me in this half marathon I'll give you some reasons you should think twice before comitting this to your deleted items.

1. Many of you were born and raised and have connections with Coventry. Coventry Cyrenians are a local charity started in the late 70's to provide night shelters to rough sleepers in our city. They continue to provide such a service today and much more.

Rough sleeeping used to be a far worse problem. I remember as a child far more than today, and it is largely due to volentary services provided by organisations such as the Cyrenians that homeless people in the city have a place to go at nights. Today the problem may not be so visible as the homeless are not.

There are many people in desparate states, plagued by unemployment, squeezed incomes and poor prospects;often young and disaffected some of whom we may know and have come into contact with, who we may not see as homeless as such, but may sleep at various peoples houses, or are in arrears with rent in danger of being out on the streets with no where to go. Such people are often vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and criminality, stuck in a rut where their lives have led them. Many will have problems with  uncontrolled drug and alcohol use perpetuating cycles of hopelessness and poor mental health. I have come across alot of people like this myself. Before I started my current job I had a side job collecting debt in the CV1 area. I must say it was a real eye opener. I actually spent alot ore time dispensing informal advice about debt allieviation with folks than setting them up with affordable repayment plans. The stories I could tell you about the plight of many people in our city from all backgrounds would shock. 

No one should sleep rough in todays Britain, yet it happens. One can guess at the state of mind of many of those we see on the streets. The Cyrenians help people like this in Coventry by helping them access educational and mental health services, helping them develop basic living skills and by doing so providing a secure foundation for a future, where they can live dignified, happy lives,  without abuse and exploitation, building confidence and mental well being. The Cyrenians help approximately 1 in 316 people per year in  in Cov do as much. That is quite an achievement!  

If you want to donate to a charity, remember charity begins at home. The Cyrenians are a well managed charity in our local area which helps make our city better for us all. If you have links with Coventry and have not donated before to them, they are certainly worthy of your support.

 

2. I have never run a 1/2 marathon and the last time I asked anyone for any sponsorship was in 2005 in the wake of the boxing day Tsunami when myself and Mark Amos cycled straight across the continental United States raising money for the Disaters Emergency Committee, UNICEF, MSF and Global Care. I find this challenge just as daunting having never really been a runner, and I find the cause just as worthy in its own right. Furthermore I am at the moment dying of the flu but I will run it come what may :P 

 

Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to read guys and girls.

 

Yours 

 

Alex