Right, so, after a horrific 21 mile run on the South Downs where I felt like curling up and dying on the hillside, I have decided that this will be my only marathon - so please sponsor me!

I've had a rubbish lead up to this race, with injuries hampering my training and leaving me hugely unprepared - but I am still determined to complete this marathon, despite the course profile looking like this:

http://www.robin-web.co.uk/beachyhead/map%20&%20profile.htm !!!

While I'm trudging round it will really help me to think I am supporting people much braver than myself - refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.

Refugees and asylum seekers are amongst the most vulnerable people in the UK, suffering from poverty, high levels of isolation, lack of access to services, racism, prejudice and discrimination. In addition they have to cope with the trauma and circumstances that made them flee their home countries in the first place, such as ethnic cleansing or brutal regimes. Now many face destitution.

 

You are probably aware of the work the Red Cross does to help refugees overseas, but you most likely didn't know that, as a neutral humanitarian organisation with a long history of helping those most in need, the British Red Cross has a remit to help refugees and asylum seekers here in the UK. The Red Cross helps refugees and asylum seekers in many ways, but in particular they help those who, for whatever reason, fall out of the system of state support avilable to them and become destitute. The British Red Cross aims to alleviate destitution by providing practical help through emergency provisions, such as food parcels and warm clothing, and advice on how to access the limited resources that are available to them in the local area. If you are still not persuaded that refugees and asylums seekers deserve our support, then please take time to have a look at the videos on this page: http://www.redcross.org.uk/TLC.asp?id=95796

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

I wont ever be doing this again! So please dig deep and donate now.