Dear friends and family,

This month, I will be attempting my very first half marathon. Don't ask. If you know me, then you know I like things. 

I'm running for education. More importantly, I am running for the University of Sheffield. The UoS is a charity (Exempt Charity number - X1089) and was helped by its community over 100 years ago through 'penny donations' made by locals who understood the power of education for all. 

Those locals raised £50,000- around £15 million today and they built an incredible university- on pennies!!!! I love this sentiment and it is one from which I benefited years later in 2009 via the Alumni Fund Scholarship.  Today, the Alumni Fund Scholarships are funded by donations from alumni and friends of the University from all over the world. These scholarships are allocated to the most promising students who otherwise would not have the financial means to access higher education. 

I have never forgotten the pennies and philanthropy idea. It often crossed my mind when I was a student in Sheffield. So this month, I'm running this half marathon because it's the least I can do for the young people who need the very same scholarship I received in order to fully access higher education.

It fills my heart with so much joy to know that there are so many people who are putting philanthropic work and educational needs first. I have experienced this first hand. 

Special thanks to Langebaan Country Estate Weskus Marathon, Cape Town, South Africa for allowing me to use their name for this. You guys are special. 

All my (out-of-breath) smiles, 

Sikose :-) 

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