Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

We have a high target to reach and a long, long way to run so we need all the help we can get! Please give generously in memory of Danny and mum who we miss very much and know would be so proud of us raising money for this great cause!

As many of you know. Our brother Danny was well cared for by Helen House prior to his death. Since then, the chairty has been very close to our hearts and when mum passed away of bowel cancer in 2006, we did a charity collection at her funeral in aid of Helen and Douglas House as we knew this is what she would have wanted. We feel honoured that we are running for a charity which means so much to us.

Here's what your money will do:

£20 - will open the bar on a Saturday night at Douglas House. It's a great place for guests to relax and even has its own juke box.

£30 - will pay for a music therapy session. These are brilliant for people with little voice or hand control as it gives them a chance to interact with others.

£105 - will employ a nurse for the day, allowing Helen and Douglas House to provide the one to one care that is so essential for their guests.

£300 - will run a siblings group, especially run for the brothers and sisters of the children and young adults that stay at Helen and Douglas House, and offers a chance to meet others in similar situations and to share experiences in a safe and fun environment.

£693 - will pay for medical supplies. This might include oxygen masks, bandages and syringes, as well as many other things that help to provide individualised care for one month at Helen and Douglas House.

The latest from Laura:

March 2010

Well my training is going as well as it could but things are getting a little tedious. I feel like I have a second job! All this training and running is very time consuming and can feel more like a chore! That's saying something coming from a personal trainer! We have that big 18 miler next week too! Ugh I hope Hol has some good chat otherwise I may go insane!!!!

Despite all this I feel ready for the big race and will be thankful when we pass the finish line and be proud of our big achievement!!!!!! 

February 2010

Training has not gone exactly to plan so far. I seem to have been plagued with injuries that have limited my training. For sure my fitness is still high due to the fact I am a fitness freak but the long weekend runs have really suffered due to my inability to walk! It's been tough and is going to involve continual treatment and a lot of time and dedication into my daily stretching to sort this 1 out. I will run though if it kills me! Hollie seems to be doing fantastic and I am so proud of her dedication, I just know that with her support we will make it to the finish line!

January 2010

First and foremost, I am just wanting to finish the race and avoid injury along the way! At this stage my big worry is finding the right pair of running shoes and sorting out little niggles with my body that sport has given me, which might effect training! I am now starting to plan a training programme for myself and Hollie that will be interesting and varied for both of us so we can achieve our marathon goals. Also I want to keep Hollie motivated so an interesting, challenging programme is a must. 
I really want us to run it in 3 hours 45 minutes and can't wait to run for such a special cause and experiencing the great atmosphere on the day! No doubt that will spur us on along with the support of each other. I can almost smell the many fish and chip stops Hollie and I are going to have to make in order to refuel. Oh how we are going to indulge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The latest from Hollie:

March 2010

What surprises me is that Laura thinks I'm going to be able to chat during our 18 miler!!! The novelty of running has worn off and we have been a little slack with the training. Long weekend runs have been a  maximum of 15 miles so far which is not enough. We are still running 10 minute miles and race day is only a month away now. I have become a social recluse – going out with friends very infrequently, drinking even more infrequently and fed up of saying "sorry I can’t come, I have to train" to everything. Having said this I’m very much looking forward to the race, particularly the end of it and although I’m excited, my nerves have already started to kick in. One concern of mine is how the weather will be on the day. I am ok with running in the cold, rain and warmth but if the sun is out, I feel this could really mess everything up for me.

February 2010

Well it's the end of Feb and I've already come a long way! I have been training with Chris and doing long endurance runs on a Saturday and shorter interval and fartlek sessions mixed with shorter faster runs during the week, as well as a few swimming sessions to mix it up a bit.

A half marathon now looks achievable so hopefully with 8 weeks to go I can build on this.

I have had a few blisters already on longer runs and I'm currently building strength in my knees. Realistically I think I'll be looking at 10 minute miles across the whole course.

We have been very dedicated with training and every time I think about how much I can't be bothered to brave the cold at 7pm when I get in from work, the reason we are running makes me put all the negativity to the back of my mind and don my running shoes.

I can't stop eating at the minute but my figure has toned up a lot - in particular my abs are rock hard - get in!

January 2010

When we applied for the marathon I was really excited and when we both got a place, I was over the moon, however the fear is now starting to set in. I am particularly scared as Laura is a professional and there is a lot of pressure on me to keep up. I'm glad that I have already run my first full marathon so I know what to expect to an extent but that was 6 years ago now!!!

I need to try to keep focussed and remember why I am putting myself through it - we need to raise as much money as possible! I anticipate a lot of laughter but a lot of hard work but I know Laura will help me out as much as she can. It will be difficult to fit in training with work but I plan to do shorter runs throughout the week and longer ones on weekends.

 

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So please dig deep and donate now.