Martin Brookes
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Fundraising for Tomorrow's People
Story
I ran the marathon on Sunday and completed it in 4:04. It was a fantastic experience, with great crowds and a terrific atmosphere. I am very glad I did it and will certainly try to do it again next year. The training was at times miserable but the final run was great. I confess that I am already planning another, and see this one as training for next year in London.
Teri at Tomorrow's People has written a new blog, which you can read here, http://www.tomorrows-people.co.uk/news/confessions-grouchy-runner-aftermath/. She finds my general chirpiness less fun.
Thank you to everyone who sponsored me. I am really grateful for your support.
My original post is below.
Martin
I am running the London Marathon this weekend for Tomorrow's People, the charity for which I work. I would like to ask you to sponsor me for this.
I have been at Tomorrow's People for two years, though I knew the charity from afar for many years previously and was an admirer. We help disadvantaged young people who are out of work and detached from the jobs market.
The young people we help are trapped by their circumstances. They might have grown up in care, had difficult family lives where no-one worked, or where drugs were common. They might have ended up with no qualifications, fallen into crime, or just drifted. They might lack confidence, or resilience, or the simple social skills that so many of us take for granted but which are essential to getting a job and keeping a job. With our support, they get back on their feet and into work or a good training position.
Our work is not glamorous. And, in good economic times, it is often unnoticed. But it is essential. If you grow up in care, for example, the state of the economy is not much relevant to your prospects. Depending on where you live in the country, there might be more than a 50% chance that you will become unemployed immediately and remain there. Under-qualified, under-skilled, lacking social networks and the confidence to get on. Simply by virtue of your birth.
Our work changes this, measurably and demonstrably so. I will spare you the evidence of how good we are at what we do. But if anyone wants a barrage of statistics or quotes, there are lots, so just ask! (I am assuming that a plea for sponsorship is not really the place to start quoting lots of statistics, even as a sometime economist.)
I did my first marathon last year aged 50. I did that one just for fun, or at least to see if I could do it. I decided to run the London marathon for Tomorrow's People to help raise our profile and some money.
I would be very pleased and grateful if you would sponsor me. If you do, I can promise two things. First, I will suffer during the run - 26.2 miles is not trivial, particularly at my age - which might produce a smile. Second, the sponsorship money will be wisely used for a very good cause - and, hopefully, that produces a bigger smile.
A colleague, Teri, has written a short piece about my marathon training and plans, Confessions of a grouchy runner. It is, I fear, not entirely complimentary, but it is amusing. If a wry take on my efforts might encourage you to sponsor me, read Teri's piece.
Martin