1 June 2009 

... and here are some pictures of me and the marathon, thanks to some club members... 

http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee324/brianodonnell_photos/Edinburgh_marathon_2009/DSCF0409.jpg
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2430597&id=561476875&l=8a29676a23
http://s532.photobucket.com/albums/ee324/brianodonnell_photos/Edinburgh_marathon_2009/

And a race report from Evening News (The Edinburgh Paper)... 
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/latestnews/Heat-is-on-as-17000.5320722.jp
Especially this qoute caught my eye... "The final competitor to cross the line was Shato Qadir a Kurdish amputee who completed the course on crutches."  And I was complaining about a leg muscle ache? I have so much to thank God for!

     1 June 2009 

The marathon yesterday went ok... the shin/muscle ache didn't give me much trouble... although it was one of the harder ones I did so far. It was a warm day for Scotland with a temperature of more than 20 degrees C.

Here is a link to the results. You will find me at position 325 with time 3:14:47... 
http://www.edinburgh-marathon.com/?past-results   

Thanks for the great support I received from you!

Frans                             ---o---

     28 May 2009

Just 3 days to go to the marathon... I've just reached my fundraising target! I'm humbled by the generosity of all of you who gave towards this cause! And of course, any more donations are still welcome (and needed, and appreciated) and will go to the same cause. 

I have a light shin/muscle ache since a few weeks ago... doesn't seem serious, but I hope it doesn't cause problems during the race....

The race starts at 9.00 am this coming Sunday, and should keep me busy at least until 12 noon. I will send more updates.

Thanks,
Frans                             ---o---

     30 April 2009

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

Some of you know I like running, but even more so when I can do it for a good cause. My son, Filipe, has Down’s syndrome… and this is an excellent opportunity for me to raise funds for Down’s Syndrome Scotland by running the Edinburgh Marathon on 31 May 2009. 

When we found out that Filipe has Down’s syndrome after his birth, we were quite disorientated… not knowing what to do. At that stage we were living in Turkey. We received invaluable advice and support from the Down’s Syndrome Association in the UK, not knowing that eventually we will be living in the UK.

Since we moved to Glasgow, Filipe has benefitted from several opportunities provided by Down’s Syndrome Scotland to acquire new skills, like skiing, white river rafting and many other activities. They always gave us good advice regarding Filipe’s education right across his school career… he is now 13 years old and in secondary school year 2.

There is no cure for Down’s syndrome, but a lot can be done to help individuals with this condition to reach their full potential, amidst the challenge of learning difficulties. Nowadays, people with Down syndrome enjoy a much healthier and longer life than some decades ago, thanks to medical progress and increased inclusion in families and communities. Down’s Syndrome Scotland plays an important role in this process, and this is why I want to raise funds for them by running this 26.2 miles (42.2 km).  

Your support will help people like Filipe reaching their full potential!

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Down's Syndrome Scotland gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Thanks for sponsoring me!

Frans