Hi everyone - thanks so much for visiting my fundraising page, I appreciate it!

The challenge of trying to raise money for great causes year after year, is that you keep having to take that challenge to the next level!! This one is certainly the toughest for me - I never was built for long-distance running - and now I've been learning quite how far 26.2 miles is just going to be....

I can't promise to smash any "times" but I will certainly be giving it everything to get around that course and finish... and anything you can do to support my efforts would be amazing!!

My focus for the London Marathon is to support two African projects which JMT supports and which I have had close links with over the past few years, both of which I have seen develop and grow, led by wonderful passionate local people with such caring hearts:

i) Orphan education programme in Kitgum, Uganda: right at the epi-centre of the 20+ year terrible civil war, the town was under siege with 10's thousands living in sprawling refugee camps and kids sleeping in night shelters. As they begin to rebuild under the recent peace, local teachers and the church have been working to get children back into the schools, offering support to those most needy. Via JMT, we have agreed this year to support 7 secondary school students and one into tertiary education in midwifery for all their costs (~£2,800)

ii) Street kids project in Johannesburg (Thembalethu): notoriously one of the toughest, most dangerous cities in the world, life on Joburg's streets for teenagers is hard and dangerous. Thembalethu was a charity I was involved in starting (and still sit on its Council) which looks to provide food, care, basic essentials, Christian counselling and a growing range of opportunities to those living rough. Via JMT, we recently helped them support taking on a first full-time worker, allowing support 7 days a week - already for 2009 we've committed to £5,000 of support.

If you'd like to know more about either or the wider set of JMT projects then please do drop me a line. I really appreciate all your support

Thanks

Nick

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