Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.  

(Thank you to all those that have helped me raise over £1500 already for YHA Breaks4Kids charity - love you all!! X  Check out the well-wishes on www.justgiving.com/Ameera.)

The Marathon??  Are you bonkers I hear you say?  Well perhaps!  So why do it??

Well, some of you maybe aware that I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2005; after surgery and treatment I was given the all clear last year - I feel very lucky!  This made me re-evaluate my life and I started a short-list of things I'd like to do/achieve - the London Marathon was on that list.  And when a Golden Bond ticket opportunity arose for a guaranteed place, I snapped it up.

The training is hard as I'm quite lazy when it comes to exercise but I'm going to persevere and give it my best shot and hopefully get around the course in a respectable time - if Jade Goody can get to 18 miles (or 21 depending on which paper you read) in tennis shoes and 4 hours training, surely I can beat that!!!

I have managed to raise over £1500 toward the YHA Breaks4Kids charity and would now like to continue by raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.  Please help with whatever you can.

Ameera x

Training Update12/02/07:Well I did 9miles on Sunday in 1hr30m and am very proud.....although my poor knees are suffering so am taking a few days off. 

Training Update19/02/07:I managed 10miles on Saturday 1hr40m - I'm finally in double figures! So far so good!

Training Update26/02/07:What a terrible week! I have done no running since last Saturday - went to do my 11mile run yesterday, and managed only to do 7 miles - my knees are killing me - going to an osteopath on Friday.  Am very annoyed that I have not managed to increase my distance or time.

Training Update03/03/07:Went to see orthopedic surgeon on Friday about my knees and back.  Bad news is that I have extended tendons, good news is that I'm fit to run but will need core stability exercises and pilates to strengthen my knees and back. Today I broke the 2 hour milestone and covered 11.5miles.  I feel fantastic for doing it....my knees don't though!  This does mean I go away skiing for a week on a high - but I wont be doing any hard skiing, taking it easy on the slopes and heading for the bar early!  See you in a week!

Training Update12/03/07:Well I'm back and no broken bones! Snow was great though! Had lots of fun!  Anyway, did a 6mile run tonight and my knees are playing up again - Grrrrrrr!!!! And I'm getting nervous as I'm running the Flora Half Marathon at Silverstone on Sunday - hope I'm fit enough!

Training Update18/03/07:Well a huge milestone was achieved today - I did the 1/2 Marathon at Silverstone and despite the hail, snow, rain, wind and sun, and of course the dodgy knees!! I completed in 2hrs 18mins & 43 seconds ... woohoo!! I beat Nigel Mansell who came in at 2hrs 53mins so I can now say I beat Nigel Mansell on the Silverstone circuit!!!! So after thawing out, I felt so fantastic!!! But then it hit me....I have to do double that in 6 weeks time!!! YIKES!!!!

Training Update 26/03./07:Ooops have been very lazy since the 1/2 marathon!  Just came back from a very drunken long weekend in Dublin so no running was done! Am going for my 2nd physio today so will go on some short runs this week I promise!  I am doing the Kingston Breakfast Run on Sunday (16 miles!) so need to get my butt into gear!

Training Update 01/04/07:I did the 16mile Kingston Breakfast run this morning.  The weather was perfect, but I wasnt....I nearly gave up half way through....my one knee just doesnt like running!  I did walk quite a bit of it especially the last few miles....I finished at 3hrs 1min & 42 secs....I would have preferred under 3hrs, but at least I got around it and didnt give up!  Only 3 weeks to go!! What have I got myself into!!!!

Training Update 10/04/07:Havent run since the Kingston Run - have a tight tendon which is making walking painful let alone running!  Have had 2 massages, 2 physio sessions and tried running with my trainer.  All have suggested I rest until the tendon heals - no point in trying to run as I wont have time to heal if I damage it further!  So been resting, but did a run around the block tonight to see how I feel - wasnt too bad, but it was only a 2minute jog!  Will have another go later in the week.

Training Update 16.04.07:Well it's less than a week to go...and boy am I nervous!  I did a 3 mile run Saturday and my knee still hasnt healed.  Seeing my physio today.  And hoping to do one more run on Wednesday before the Big Day on Sunday.  Wish me luck and I hope to see you on the day. X

Update 20.04.07: YIKES!!! only 2 days to go and I've got the jitterbugs!!!  Have seen all the signage and barriers going up and a zillion porta-loos!!!!!!  Looks like it might be a hot day too which is good new for spectators but not so good for us runners!!  Oh well, I can only do my best.....see you after the big day!! X

Update 23.04.07:Well I did it!!!!! And on one of the hottest London Marathons EVER!!!! They even ran out of water at some of the water stations!!  Well, I was doing quite well to about mile 14, when the dreaded knee decided NO MORE!!  So I hate to say this but I walked more than ran the rest....I did manage to finish at 5:48:58 which even though is an hour longer than I hoped, I am still very pleased with it!  It was emotional as I crossed the finished line as I broke down in tears and hugged a random guy who ran alongside me (thought I was mad!)  So will I ever do this again????.....................watch this space!!!!!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT HAVE SUPPORTED ME WITH WELL WISHES AND ESPECIALLY TO THOSE THAT MADE THE EFFORT IN THE HEAT TO COME AND SEE ME IN ACTION - AND OF COURSE A MASSIVE THANKS TO THOSE THAT HAVE SPONSORED ME - I AM VERY PLEASED THAT TWO WORTHY CHARITIES WILL BENEFIT FROM ALL THIS. XXX