Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have now completed the London Marathon for the first and last time! In spite of the heat I got round in 4:46:3. I just need to shave off 2 and a half hours to be in with a chance of winning!

It was an unbelievebly difficult run, dodging in and out of people, avoiding water bottles and struggling with feeling faint from the heat but at least it  is all over now.

Now that the dust has settled, the blisters can heal and the toe nails have dropped off I am most proud of the fact that the money I have raised with your help will be more worthwhile and last considerably longer than the length of time it took me to do the marathon in. Many thanks to everyone who has helped me get there.

Having come back from a recent trip to Nepal and, not visited a particularly poor country before, I was struck by the sharp contrast between the lifestyle there and ours in the West. The Nepalese people are the most cheerful and hard working I have ever met despite the poor conditions and hardship they live in. My impressions are typical of those of other people I have met who have also visited the country.

While there are many deserving charitable causes in the West it is hard to appreciate just how lucky we are living here and how many basic services we have such as the NHS, schools, water and sanitation compared to other parts of the world.

I was struck by the eagerness and pride the children showed in their schools; even going as far as to wear school uniforms and from the age of 6 being willing to walk (often alone) for maybe an hour to get there.

Global Action Nepal is a small charity aiming to go some way to providing education and equipment to help the Nepalese. As a small charity their adminstration costs are kept low and, as a result, the vast majority of the funds I raise by taking part in the Marathon will go directly to Nepal.

I have not taken part in a marathon before (I have only done a half marathon) and this is likely to be my one and only time!

I know we are all asked for donations to one charity or another on a regular basis. If you are willing to make a donation no matter how small that would be fantastic, a little can go a long way in Nepal so any amount is greatly appreciated.

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.

Many thanks

Alison