"I'm running a half marathon"

Had that quote emanated from the 18 year old Ollie, fresh out of school, a keen runner, wearing 28 inch waist jeans (and zipping them closed!) then it would have been plausible. Instead it has come from a middle aged Ollie…

You all know me well enough to know that running a half marathon is not my first choice nor probably sensible for an overweight man closer to 50 than 40… However after some amount of prevarication and chat I will be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday 10th October and as an added bonus doing the warm up 5k on Sat 9th for the RBC Race for the Kids - so I am combining both runs as a fundraising opportunity

I’m doing this to raise money for Great Ormond Street because I am continually shocked (and disappointed) at how much of the care they give to our children is dependent on charitable support. GOSH is the lead provider of medical care for seriously ill children in the UK but this leading capability needs our support either for R&D or basic things like palliative care.

Anything you can do to help support GOSH will give me that added incentive to get round, I’ve been training but I have never done this distance without at least a tea break or two (and probably under motor power..) so this is a genuine challenge. If nothing else there is the feel good factor that you can have a lie-in that Sunday whilst I am suffering around central London!

Around 600 seriously ill children arrive at GOSH from across the UK every day and all the funds you raise will make a huge difference to the children and families at GOSH. You'll be helping to fund state-of-the-art medical technology; pioneering research programmes into treatments and cures for rare conditions; patient, family and staff support services; and the creation of new child-focused environments that help children feel safe and calm during their appointments, treatments and recovery.

Shockingly GOSH is dependent on external charitable support to provide the support and care for our children that is required. It is scary where the NHS central funding starts and stops with critical care and research dependent on fundraising. As the UK’s lead centre for child focused medical support every pound will help children who desperately need the care and support GOSH provides every day.

Be re-assured that on Sunday 10th Oct I will be suffering for a good cause! 

Thank you!