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Thanks so much for visiting my page! On April 1st (an appropriate date..) I am running in “the toughest footrace on Earth”, the 2011 Marathon Des Sables, on behalf of Vimba.  The Marathon des Sables is an ultra-marathon in which you cover 6 marathons in 7 days across the Sahara, whilst carrying all your kit, in temperatures of up to 40°C.  Vimba is a charity which funds and runs 3 aid stations in Zimbabwe.  These stations provide one guaranteed meal a day, water, informal education and regular medical checks for in excess of 200 children.  The impact Vimba has on these children’s lives is dramatic and, ultimately, keeps them alive.  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Vimba2010">http://www.youtube.com/user/Vimba2010</a>    The Marathon des Sables covers approximately 151 miles run over 7 days.  You carry everything you need for the duration of the race (food, clothing, medical provisions, sleeping bag, stove etc) the only exceptions are water - which is rationed on a daily basis and a tent.  The rucksack generally weighs in the region of 11kg without water.  The course varies each year but the ground tends to be a mix of sand dunes, rocky desert, and stony ground.   My choice to support Vimba is simple; it has been set up and is run by good friends of mine and relatively small amounts of money make a huge impact - literally saving lives.   Vimba identify, open and run Child Feeding and Education Centres (CFEs); in which children from a 15km radius can come to the centre five days a week and are provided with food, water, education and medical support.  Since 2007 they have established three permanent CFEs and are in partnership with an AIDs orphanage on a fourth centre.  It costs approximately 700USD to run one CFE for a month and each one looks after 70 children a day.   Vimba’s aim is to make the CFEs self-sustaining; thus allowing them to set more up.    You can read more about them here: http://www.vimba.co.uk/   Donating through Just Giving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with Just Giving – 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. It’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.   I really do appreciate your support, thank you.

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