Hi

Thanks for visiting this page. Just in case you hadn’t heard, on 19th September 2010 I will be running the Great North Run for the National Lymphoma Association.

http://www.lymphomas.org.uk/

Anyone who knows me will confirm that I’m not exactly a natural athlete and completing this course will represent my greatest athletic achievement since coming last in the Stanwell Comprehensive School 1500 metres in 1992. 18 years of silent shame at this performance, along with the shock of turning 30 recently, are spurring me on to complete the world’s most famous half marathon course.

In all seriousness though, I have a genuine reason for wanting to do this. In September 2009 my friend Stephen Maher sadly passed away after a brave battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, at the age of just 30. Anyone lucky enough to have known Steve will know not only what a genuinely great guy he was but also what an active and life-affirming presence he was for anyone around him.

I’d like to therefore run the course in his memory and help raise as much money as possible for the National Lymphoma Association and help support the work that they do. Any money you could spare would be fantastic to help me reach my target and support what is a great cause.

Steve’s wife Alison has been raising a huge amount of money over the last year. If you have not already visited her fundraising page then please take a few minutes to have a look below. Anything you could spare would also be very gratefully received:

http://www.justgiving.com/Alison-Maher

Please also remember to add Gift Aid where possible to any donation that you can give to make sure that as much money as possible is raised.

If anyone does have any serious requests for any way to provide a fitting tribute to Steve during the run or that would help encourage you to part with a bit of cash then please email me at hughfairclough@yahoo.co.uk.

Requests for me to run in a gorilla suit or a suit of armour will be reviewed (and then politely ignored). To be honest I’m just hoping to get around 13 miles without actually killing myself…

Thanks for your time

Hugh