** Stop Press - Completed the course in 4 hours 39 minutes and 8 seconds.  This is almost 5 minutes slower than the last time I ran it, but my only mitigation is that I am 3 years older, it was hot (again) and very humid!  I actually felt ok up until I reached 18 miles, which I got to in under 3 hours, but then I felt like I was treading water for the remainder of the race. 

Thanks to everybody for your donations, both from 2009, when I could not run and was injured, and this year.  With GiftAid and my company's matching the total raised for my chosen charity (Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres) is £2,223.82.  After the race I did the usual thing of saying that I will never run another full marathon again, but they do say that you should never say "never".  And if I apply for the next 3 years and get rejected, I would still get a free place...**

Guy

Hello and thanks for visiting my fund raising page.

Last year I decided to run the London Marathon again (having once run it in 2007) but was unfortunately injured and had to have surgery on my knee to repair some long standing rugby-related wear and tear.

Now that I am fit (well relatively) and raring to go (ditto), and have been accepted for the 2010 London Marathon.  Three things prompted my decision to run the "race" again.  Firstly, because of the ludicrously hot weather when I first ran the Marathon in 2007, I wanted to give it another go in (hopefully) more suitable conditions.  Secondly two years ago when I chose to go skiing instead, I actually envied those who were competing, ridiculous as this may sound (I had obviously forgotten the pain).  But the third and most important reason was that a friend and ex-colleague of mine sadly died of cancer in 2008.  Martin O’Brien, for those that didn’t know him, was one of the nicest, kindest and funniest people that you could hope to meet.  We had actually lost touch and met up again by coincidence a few years ago.  There was a particular connection between us because this was at a time when I was finishing my cancer treatment and it turned out that Martin was just starting his.  For a long while it seemed that he would come through his battle as well, but he had a relapse and tragically died in November 2008.  Just before he died I told him that I was running the London Marathon again, that I would do so as a tribute to him, and that his memory would help to get me round.

The charity that I have chosen to support is called Maggie’s Centres, and it was set up by a lady of that name who also lost her fight against cancer.  She was obviously a very determined character, and wanted to establish something that would help people in her situation after she was gone.  I would encourage you to visit the charity’s website.  One quotation on the website particularly resonated with me and her story is an inspirational one.

I do understand that the economic climate at the moment is a very tough one and I also appreciate how many people there are out there these days trying to raise funds for various causes.  One thing that may help you to decide whether to support my efforts or not is that my employers, Diversey, have once again very generously agreed to match any contribution that you make (including Gift Aid).  You can therefore be assured that you will be getting twice the “bang for your buck” from your donation.  Many people have already contributed on my Justgiving web page for last year's event (http://www.justgiving.com/guysizer2009), and you may be assured that all of these funds have gone to the charity.  Donations already total almost £700, which equates to over £1,300 with the matching from my employers.

If you do decide to make a donation, doing so through this Justgiving website is the easiest way.  It is also totally secure and the most efficient way to sponsor me.  Maggie's Centres gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Thanks again, and I shall be thinking of you all on the 26^th April!

Guy