You’ve got a beautiful sports car.  You lovingly clean it every weekend, give it the best fuel and service it at the best garage.  It’s a warm summer’s day and you’re driving it through the countryside, music on, windows down, hair blowing in the wind.  Suddenly a huge hole appears in the road, you swerve and narrowly miss it but the car gets damaged on the right.  You carry on.  Moments later another huge hole, you swerve again and miss it but the car gets damaged on the left.  You slow down but the holes continue, the car getting more and more damaged.  However, as you drive on you realise that despite this, the music is still playing, the sun is still shining and the view is just as lovely, and despite the bumps and damage the car is still just as powerful and beautiful in a different way! 

This has been my last 10 years and those holes have been cancers, osteoporosis, early menopause, septicaemia, anaphylactic allergy, chronic pain to name just a few.  This vehicle of mine has been left very broken but my amazing family, friends and healthcare professionals have put the covers over the holes to make the journey as smooth as possible and help me to enjoy the views! 

To celebrate turning 40, I set my broken body a challenge to be as physically fit as it could be for this big milestone and run a marathon!  5 days before my birthday I'll be running the London Marathon.  

I’ve chosen to run for the charity One Cause who provide educational resources for children in India and Africa.  They know that education is the route out of poverty so the charity supports schools and provides educational resources but they also assists with life skills to make employment more likely which benefits the children, their families and their communities.  Having just adopted two school-age children I wanted to raise funds for underprivileged children and this is a brilliant charity that supports children who have very little and gives them an opportunity of a better life so every penny really counts. 

So now time for me to plead for your money… I have to raise
£2000 so ANY donation will be hugely massively brilliantly gratefully received. I cant do this without you! 

For every person who donates money I’m writing your name on
me so when I hit the wall I can look down and will see your names to inspire me to carry on, avoid the holes in the road and think about those children who need our help! 

Claire

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