SATURDAY 09/05/2009

We have just reached (and exceeded) the £4000 target! This is made up of £1350 from Backwell School fund-raising events, £705 from Cotham School fund-raising events and approximately £2000 sponsorship from friends and colleagues. Money is still coming in. Thank you all so much for helping to raise this fantastic amount. This will contribute enormously to the research being done at Nottingham University.

I did it! 26.2 miles in 3 hours 38 minutes - what a fantastic experience! It was great to meet up with Batman (Phil Mabon) and the other Robin (Neil Kendrick) before the race. They must have really suffered in their heavily padded costumes (or was it real muscle??) while I got off lightly despite the heat in my flimsy outfit. Thanks again to all our sponsors - we have nearly reached the target!

Robin

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page. I shall be running in the London Marathon on April 26th 2009 in order to raise money for LAM Action, a charity which funds research into a rare lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosis. My very good friend, Theresa Hewat from Bradford-on-Avon is a sufferer. After many years of increasing pain and disability, Theresa had a double lung transplant in Newcastle's Freeman Hospital in July 2008. The risks of such an operation are enormous but in Theresa's case the disease had damaged her lungs so much that it was her only option. It took two years of waiting for a suitable pair of lungs to be available because there is a real shortage of organ donors in this country. Sadly, Theresa's transplant operation has been followed by many complications. At the time of writing this, Theresa is in Southmead Hospital, Bristol after many months in and out of intensive care in Newcastle - she is now making real but slow progress. Theresa's bravery and will to recover are amazing. All her family and friends want just one thing - to see her back home where she can get well in her own familiar surroundings.

Please give generously to support me in this fund-raising. I am acutely aware of my own good fortune in being able to run when others have a disability that prevents them from taking any form of exercise. You can read more about the charity and the disease under the photo or visit www.lamaction.org. Theresa has suffered from LAM for the last 20 years. It is a horrible disease - please help us to fund more research into its causes and possible treatments.

Thank you - Robin

Donating with Justgiving is easy and  totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: LAM Action gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.