Dear friends, family and colleagues, You are probably familiar with Shelter - they campaign for decent housing and on behalf of the homeless. In the current economic climate their services are needed more than ever. I have run the London marathon twice before, both times to raise money for Shelter. There are two reasons why I choose to support them. In my work, I often see how poor housing impacts on health. It is no surprise that housing, poverty and ill health are inextricably linked. Children who grow up in a poor home have more health problems than those in safe, comfortable, decent homes. In a wealthy society, that seems both unjust and simply wrong. On a personal level, the work of Shelter is particularly valuable to me. My mother died in December of last year. She had a difficult life, suffering chronic ill health. In the last five years of her life she received support from a charity very like Shelter. They found her a home where she was happy and safe. I will never forget the difference that made to her. Everyone deserves a decent place to live - spare a few pounds to support this charity and give me the motivation to get round the 26 miles. Thanks for reading and for your support. Tom