4 months of training, 2,140 mins run as of 19/9/08, 0 mins remaining.

Hi everyone!

On Sunday 21^st September I’m running the Windsor Half Marathon in aid of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Having taken up the challenge 2 months ago, I’ve switched from an exercise regime of running to get onto the tube to running in the rain, battling against galeforce winds across Blackheath and dodging the mean killer squirrels in Greenwich Park. Along the way I’ve replaced the chocolate, cakes and doughnuts for energy bars and Powerade – or maybe ‘in addition to’ is actually closer to the truth than ‘replaced’. The training schedule has been demanding but I’m hoping it will pay dividends on the day when I’ll be targeting a sub-2 hour race time. Not quite Paula Radcliffe but probably faster than a Jubilee line train on a bad day.

I’ve chosen to run and raise money for MSF, an independent, self-directed international medical and humanitarian organisation. MSF delivers emergency aid in more than 60 countries to people affected by armed conflicts, natural or man-made disasters or excluded from healthcare. Your donations allow MSF to battle epidemics, rehabilitate hospitals and clinics, carry out vaccination campaigns, perform emergency surgery, run feeding centres for malnourished children, help construct wells and provide clean drinking water. Donations also enable MSF to provide longer-term programmes to treat patients with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, sleeping sickness and HIV/AIDS as well as the provision of medical and psychological care to marginalised groups including street children. MSF’s actions are guided by medical ethics and principles of neutrality and impartiality so people are treated based on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. When witness to massive and neglected acts of violence against individuals and groups, MSF speaks out publicly based on eyewitness accounts, medical data and experience. Your donations enable MSF to maintain their independence from governments and give MSF the freedom to respond to medical needs alone, irrespective of media coverage.

By sponsoring me a pound per kilometre, or per mile or however much you feel you can give, you too can help give the world’s poorest and deprived people fairer access to medicines and what I consider to be the basic human right to obtain medical care and assistance. MSF and I are deeply grateful and appreciate the support you can offer through your sponsorship where every pound and penny helps to improve and save lives.

Many thanks to you all for your support and generosity,

Elizabeth