Richard Parkhouse
Richard's Row-athon for SPARKS
Fundraising for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
Story
Thank you for visiting my SPARKS row-athon fundraising site.
Being in the fortunate position of having a great family and two healthy growing children, I am constantly touched by the heart rending stories of those kids less fortunate than my own and want to do my bit to help them. For all of us, but especially parents, I know that we all share deep concerns around the plight of some children and hold a common value that we want to try to do something about it.
My employer Lehman Brothers, the Global Investment Bank, has been committed to philanthropic initiatives over many years. The Firm has partnered amongst others, with a particularly worthwhile charity called SPARKS (Sport Aiding Medical Research for Kids) that channels its funds into medical projects looking at children's conditions as diverse as cerebral palsy, childhood arthritis, childhood cancers, meningitis, spina bifida and the pre-and post-natal dangers of premature birth. The charity was founded in 1991 by Jimmy Hill and other sportsmen/women who felt that they had been privileged in life and wanted to give something back to those who had not been so fortunate. Its patrons include Martin Johnson, Sir Steven Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Trevor Brooking amongst others. This charity does make a difference in a very organised way to thousands of children's lives by financing nescessary research projects to better understand children's sickness.
By channelling our gifted money through this charity, we can all help make a tangible difference.
I am looking for your support in sponsoring me for a row-athon challenge on the Concept 2 rowing machine. I have achieved my goal of completing the distance of 26 miles (42,195 meters) in 2 hours 57 minutes and 47 seconds - that is an average of 2 minutes and 6 seconds per 500m. This took place on Sunday 23rd April to coincide with the London Marathon in the lobby of the Lehman Brothers building side by side Peter Dodsworth, a fitness instructor in the Lehman Brothers gym who also undertook the challenge, close to where the runners came by.
It's a very worthy charity and every penny really does count, so please spend a little time and a few pounds to sponsor me and help make a difference.
I recognise that I will not be the only person at this time seeking your support. There are a multitude of good causes out there. Please note that Lehman Brothers will contribute and match up to £500 and on top of that, for those of you who are UK taxpayers, Gordon Brown will add on free of charge an extra 28%. Any foreign donations will be converted into Sterling by your card holder.
If you are interested in knowing more about SPARKS, please go to www.sparks.org.uk
Many thanks for reading. All contributions, large and small, are gratefully received.
Richard