Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am the general manager of Southend Mencap and we are a very vibrant and active society currently with a total of 15 projects and clubs providing education and enjoyment to children and adults with learning disabilities covering all kinds of activities such as sports, music, drama and advocacy to name but a few. However, with the continued cuts in funding it is getting increasingly harder to secure financial support for a locally based charity like ourselves from grant giving organisations.  Therefore, I am combining my love of running marathons with my love for my role within Southend Mencap to try and secure some much needed funds that we can use across a number of our activities during 2016.  I would like specifically to use around £1,500 from what is raised for our 2 drama groups, Showstoppers and MODS, so they can have some storage for all the wonderful costumes and props that are donated to them each year. 

So what about my fundraiser?  Well this is a fundraiser with a bit of a difference as I will not only be running 4 marathons but London will also feature my first ever musical performance!  

The itinary for my fundraiser is as follows:          

Sunday 3rd April - Paris Marathon                       

Sunday 10th April - Manchester Marathon         

Monday 18th April - Boston Marathon                 

Sunday 24th April - London Marathon

Our Music Man team and students will be situated along The Embankment part of the London Marathon course and when I reach them at around the 25 mile mark, I will stop and do a 20 minute musical segment with them all before then continuing to complete the last mile of my 4 marathons in 21 days challenge.

I have been running marathons as a hobby, yes you have read that right, for the last 5 years and just as recently as October 2015 I ran 3 in that month so the physical fitness needed for the 4 marathons shouldn't prove a problem.  However, my musical experience is nil and then factor in I will be 'performing' after running 25 miles and that's the part I am incredibly unsure about.  

Our Music Man Project is fast becoming a nationally acclaimed provision for people with learning disabilities that included over 200 students performing our ground-breaking concert 'Music is Magic' at The London Palladium on Sunday 21st June 2015, so hopefully they can all 'carry me' and 'cover for me' and my musical shortcomings when I perform with them.  At the same time, I'm hoping that by them performing throughout the whole day at a very prominent location along The Embankment it will generate a lot of exposure for Music Man and the benefits it provides to children and adults with learning disabilities.