Thank you for taking time to visit my JustGiving page. If you've got here it probably means you know I have decided to run the Amsterdam Marathon in October this year. To keep me focussed and motivated I have chosen to support two very different, but very worthwhile charities, Urban Promise UK and #26 for Soph.

I been a supporter of the Royal Marines Band Service since a friend of mine joined up in the 1980's. Since then I have seen countless concerts and heard during a concert in 2024 that one of the band members, Sophie Ward, had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Her colleagues started #26 for Soph to raise funds for the Royal Marines Association, Dorothy House Hospice Care, and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. You can find out more here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/26forsoph & https://www.instagram.com/26forsoph/

The second charity I'm supporting is Urban Promise UK. I have been part of the board of trustees for Urban Promise since it started 3 years ago. I have recently stepped down from the board, and this my parting gift to them. Urban Promise UK, has recently been supported by BBC Children in Need and exists to serve children and young people, helping them to thrive and break through barriers to opportunity and success. They provide mentoring, training, and holistic support in the Marks Gate community of Barking and Dagenham in London. Urban Promise UK belongs to a global family of over 30 organisations, all working toward the same goal – seeing children and young people develop into leaders who will transform their community and the lives of those around them. You can find out more here: https://urbanpromise.org.uk

Any donations you give will help two really life changing charities continue to provide important to support to those who need it.

Thank you for your generosity,

Paul