Hi

Thanks for getting this far - and visiting this page.

I've done the London marathon a couple of times before - both times in my 30's (I'm now in my 50's)  Firstly for a breast cancer charity and secondly for the RNLI.  This time I'm running for the Seaview Sailing Trust.

The day I received my ballot place for this year's marathon I was meeting with Drea Minton-Beddoes, the chair of the Seaview Sailing Trust.  We talked about the charity - which seeks to expand the excellent work of our existing Seaview Sailing Programme.  The aim of the charity is to provide much-needed extracurricular sailing activities to pupils from local Isle of Wight primary schools, some of which are among the most deprived in the country.

This is, in the scheme of things, a very small charity - and therefore one that really can make a difference to the children who receive the time and tuition both on the water, and off.  

Many of you know me, and know I'm a keen member of the Seaview community. I feel passionately about all things Seaview.  So I agreed to raise funds - I have chosen the target figure of £2,700 - as this will enable 100 sessions of sailing for local children. 

Very kindly an anonymous donor has agreed to match fund - as long as I reach my target of £2,700 - so please help me do so. 

Despite the global pandemic, the Sea View Yacht Club has managed to provide some much-needed on-the-water and classroom training to pupils from local Primary Schools over both of the past two years, albeit less intensively than we would have liked. Everybody has witnessed the disastrous effects the pandemic's lockdown restrictions have had on the mental health of the entire nation, in particular for the young. Most of the children who take part in the activities we offer would struggle in a normal year to spend enough time interacting with their peers in an outdoor environment - even at the local recreational ground - and most also struggle financially.  We operate this programme in a part of the country with some of the weakest educational outcomes. It is my aim to help change this.

The schools programme is entirely funded through charitable donations. Organisations and individuals both on the Isle of Wight and the mainland have seen the difference this programme is making to its participants and generously supported the programme. Donors range from SVYC members, local Seaview businesses to national organisations and charities such as Sir Ben Ainslies charity 1851. We are hugely grateful to all the funders who allow us to operate this programme in a part of the country with some of the weakest educational outcomes.

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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.