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The two of us are running the Paris Marathon on 11 April.

This originally started out as something to structure around a few days in Paris, drinking quality wines in the evening and spending the days shuffling round galleries with sore heads, squinting at objets d'art. Then we realised that we might not get around the track if we did it this way. We needed something bigger. Something worthy. A Cause.

So, we've chosen to fundraise for the Hospice of St Francis, a great cause that provides specialist care to people affected by life-limiting illness in West Hertfordshire. Only 20% of the hospice's funding comes from the state; the rest is from charitable donations.

None of what we raise will go into our race entry fee: we had the places already and have picked St Francis' because we think they do Good Things. So please dig deep and donate. This will be Joe's first marathon and Rik's second. Donate through altruism, donate through schadenfreude.

For some examples of what your money will buy, click here.

Best of all, Joe's employers, the Bank of England, have generously offered to match all money raised up to £500, so this is a very 'efficient' way to give to the hospice and will boost the economy! 

**REASSURING WORDS FROM JUSTGIVING**

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.