My sister and I said to each other years ago that we'd run a marathon together.  Since then both of us have been in and out of hospital - Catherine in Chad in Africa, saving many lives in needy places and developing sustainable medical practice - and Peter in Cork, where within a year of the race (last June), he lay in intensive care for several days.

So now, in a bid to make that happen, we thought we'd pick the most entertaining one - the arctic circle at midnight on the summer solstice.

http://www.msm.no/index.php

Having only started properly training just before Christmas, we're still looking to run it in 3 hours (Peter) and 4.5 hours (Catherine).

You can take your pick from 2 main causes to give towards:

1. "IFES Ireland: the Christian Unions" play an instrumental part in having the big questions of life discussed and debated at the heart of campuses, and have seen much happen within the last few months (ask me for stories!).  But short-staffed, far more would happen with another staffworker in Munster - not to mention that it would make Peter's life and job far easier!   Another £1000 would be a great help to get 2 new Associate Staff for Munster who need a little help financially.
2. Diabetes Ireland: We realise that both the other charities are either implicitly or explicitly Christian.  Therefore to any not comfortable with that, here's a final option - Peter and Catherine both have an uncle whose life has been dominated majorly by diabetes Type 1.  Medical Treatment has made such a difference to his life, and the advancements that Diabetes Ireland and others have helped in the land, will make life far more bearable for those with the same condition these days (please donate on the link below)

(For Catherine's friends, please see her own page for her chosen charity: "Bebalem Poor Fund" strategicly uses funds for one of the poorest parts of the world in south Chad (where Catherine worked) to sustainably support those in great suffering and need in Bebalem Hospital.  Half of it would also part-fund local nursing students too poor to pay all their course fees, but who are committed to the course and study.)

Thanks very much for considering giving!  If you want to give in Euro, please visit www.stewardship.ie and choose "IFES Ireland the Christian Unions" or http://www.diabetes.ie/fundraising/donate/