Update: 21st September 2009

Thanks everyone - I have tried to thank you all individually but if I have inadvertently missed anyone I apologise.

What a journey! I first started thinking of doing something like this about twelve months ago.  Along the way I have made new friends and received a tremendous amount of support and encouragement.  That enabled me to achieve a personal goal - I managed to complete the run in 1:58:51.

But to have raised well over £1,000 for St Gemma's at the same time has been quite staggering and contributed in no small way to my achieving my target time.

Thank you all very much indeed - I know that St Gemma's Hospice & their patients truly appreciate your generosity.

Update: 1st September 2009

Target achieved!! - thanks Dave, Paula, Joe & Abbie - you got me over my first fnishing line!  Thanks also to all my International supporters (too many to mention individually) but to date including friends, colleagues and relatives in Canada, USA, Germany, China & Tasmania! ... & Korea (2/9/09)!

Update: 24th August 2009

Thanks everyone for your unbelievably generous support - I am well on my way to my target of £500.

I must also especially thank Hardy Matamala for his encouragement and excellent coaching through my 6 month's training schedule.  Thanks also to Saj Chaudhury & Adrian Worger who, together with Hardy, have pulled me through the last few Saturday morning 'long runs'.

It is now less than 4 weeks before I tackle my first 1/2 marathon - The Great North Run - on 20th September

For over 15 years I, (together with a group of friends) have been raising funds for St Gemma's Hospice in Leeds - we reckon that over that time we have raised about £23,000.

This year, in addition to the regular Windermere Row I have decided to go one (or several) steps further.

St Gemma's is a remarkable establishment and does enormous good by way of supporting both the terminally ill and their families.  They are heavily reliant on charitable donations to continue their work and are hugely appreciative of all donations.  The cost of caring for one of their In-Patients for one entire day, including all their medical and nursing care, pain relief, medication, food and any complementary therapies they might need is £360 so they need to raise a substantial sum each year.

Now for the official JustGiving bit:

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.

Thank you for any support you feel able to give.

Chris