(Tue 27 April) - STILL HURTING!!

Once again a huge thank you to you all.  As you can see you've helped me reach my target of £2,000.  THANK YOU!  But please, if you haven't yet donated and want to then please do.  It would be fantastic to raise more than the target.

The Heart of Kent Hospice needs to raise £3 million a year to run, almost all of which comes from donations, so every pound really does count.

Rochester Cathedral also relies heavily on donations and the extra money will not be wasted and will help to ensure that both the building and the music will be here in years to comes for all to enjoy....

So let's see how far you can push the total.  With Gift Aid we're not far of £2,500 so PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE donate some money.  Some of you have seen me walking around today....that in itself is a funny sight and worth a donation.

Thank you to you all.

Paul

 

(Mon 26 April) - THE DAY AFTER!!

I DID IT!!!  Very happy to report that I completed yesterday's marathon in 4hrs 54mins 10secs.  Not a time that's going to trouble the winners (or even the girl in the chicken suit!) but one I'm very proud of.

The day was fantastic, the crowds unbelieveable and the atmosphere something to treasure.

Hurting today but mainly aches rather than injuries.

And all your donations have pushed me to within touching distance of my target, so a huge thank you to you all!!  It was knowing that you all believed in me that got me through the last couple of miles!!

Thank you all once again for your support and generosity. 

Paul

 

(Thurs 22 April)

So close now!  Starting to get a little nervous and seriously worried about the heat!!  After all that terrible weather we're looking at temperature in the 20's for Sunday - WONDERFUL!!

All the sponsorship and words of encouragement have been brilliant.  No training this week, carb depleting over the last few days and am now ready for the 'pastathon'!

Thank you for your support and I'll let you know how I do!

Paul

 

(Sun 18 April)

Well a week to go and it's time I raised some money!!

The last 6 weeks haven't gone exactly to plan.  First of all I managed to get a small tear in my groin!  This slowed me up somewhat!!  and led to me straining my quad and hamstring too!!  Just as that finally heals I damage my left foot and that leads to me contracting Cellulitis!!!

Until today I wasn't sure whether I could run on Sunday...but I can and I will.....not particularly fast but I'll get round!!

So whilst I've got 26 mile to run next Sunday you've got to help me reach my target!!

So read my story below, my reasons for running, and donate some money, please!!!!

Thanks

Paul

 

(Mon 15 Feb)

What was I thinking!

Clearly I wasn't!  But here I am preparing to run a marathon for a second time - 16 years after the first!

So on 25th April 2010, while most sane people are either tucked up in bed or preparing for a relaxing day, I'll be getting ready to run 26 miles and a bit...for fun!

However there are good reasons for doing this and it's something that I've always wanted to do.  When I got my place in the marathon my good friend, Jonathan, asked whether I would be raising money for charity.  At the time it hadn't crossed my mind but then I thought about it and realised that it had to be done.  But for who?  In the end I decided to choose two charities, both very personal and very deserving but both very different and for very different reasons.

The passing of a father....the birth of a son

2000 was a year of huge change for me and my family.  The year started with my wedding continued with the birth of my son but ended with my father losing his battle with cancer.  He had only been diagnosed with cancer 5 months earlier but remained positive all the way through.  It was hard for us all to cope with his illness but one of my lasting memories is of him holding his grandson for the first and sadly last time - Edward didn't cry, didn't wriggle but lay still.  I sat there listening to him say that when he was better he would take Edward with him when he walked the dog, how he'd teach him to play his beloved cricket, how he looked forward to playing golf with him and how he'd play with Edward in the garden and take him cycling.  But then he paused, quietened his voice thinking that only Edward could hear and said..."well, I sure your dad will do all that...".  It was the one and only time he let anyone know what he truely felt.

Less than a month later dad passed away but he was not by himself, nor was he in a hospital but was supported and cared for by the professionals and volunteers of The Heart of Kent Hospice.  When I spoke to my mum about supporting the hospice she told me how wonderful they had been, not just to dad but to her.  Although only in for a short time his stay was made as comfortable as possible.

The Heart of Kent Hospice

This is a charity which provides specialist palliative care to the people of Maidstone and the surrounding local communities.  As a charity, the services they offer are free of charge. It currently costs £3m per year to provide their care. Of this, they have to raise £2.2m themselves from the community.  There is a team of professionals and volunteers specialising in providing skilled care, comfort, compassion and hope to people facing the challenge of terminal illness, providing inpatient care, patient and family support and day therapy.

 

Why Rochester Cathedral?

The following is a quote taken from the blog of someone who attending evensong earlier this year and sums up so eloquently my thoughts and feelings when I'm sitting listening to them practice or perform... 

“...Whilst attending Evensong I was struck by the following thought.  Here are around 16 boys and their mentors working their hearts out to achieve excellence - including miniscule detail – away from the glare and the ‘glitz’ of huge numbers of public audience; this would have gone on at this standard had we not been there and it was a true team effort.  So why mention it here, then?  Well, it reminded me that everything that the choir do every day of the year, in all its detail, and however unseen by those outside, is in so many ways just as important as the ‘big stage’ showcase events – it is of course the former that makes the latter so successful...”

Rochester Cathedral is where my son and 16 other boys spend between 10 and 15 hours a week rehearsing and performing to congregations of between 2 to 200.  No matter how many or how few, their dedication and effort is always of the highest standard.  Their reward is often just a smile.  Their efforts are echoed by all those who serve Rochester Cathedral which relies on the donations and generosity of visitors and patrons to maintain the building as everything associated within.

This year sees the choir touring to Malta where they will sing at St George's Basilica,  St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral in Valletta and take part in the Victoria International Arts Festival.

 

Both charities are worthy for very different reasons but I hope you will feel you can sponsor me whatever you can afford.

I want to raise £2,000 - £1,000 for both and will split your donations 50:50 between the charities.  It would be great to do even more but I thank you all now for your support and will keep you updated with my progress!!

Paul