blonde poker forum

I wasn't going to do a separate begging thread for this, but I changed my mind :D

So, as anyone who has followed the 'fit blondes in berlin' thread will be aware, I decided in a moment of semi-madness late last year to join the group of blondes that are heading out to Germany in September to run the Berlin Marathon.  At that point I was woefully unfit and leading a pretty unhealthy lifestyle  - couldn't walk a mile without my legs aching the following day, and never, as far as I can recall, ran more than a mile or so in my entire life at around 13 years old.

The next step on the road to Berlin is the Sheffield Half Marathon which I am running in just over 3 weeks (eek!) on 27th May.  It's not going to be an easy ride - I'm not as prepared as I'd hoped to be when I signed up for it back in around December time as a chest infection in Feb/March put a spanner in the works with my training. Also, despite now being able to run literally miles more than I ever have before, I'm still a way off covering anything like the half-marathon distance.  I'm absolutely certain I have it in me to go the distance though, and my inner masochist is actually looking forward to it :)

Now on to the begging part.  I'll be running in Sheffield in aid of the often overlooked mental health charity Mind (mind.org.uk).  As I'm sure most of you are aware, 1 in 4 people in this country will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their life.  Add to that the potentially millions of other people who suffer in silence, not seeking the help or treatment they need for reasons of fear of shame or stigma, often with devastating consequences.  Mind offer both practical and emotional support to those suffering with mental illness, as well as working closely with organisations such as Time to Change to help raise awareness and understanding of mental illness in hopes of tackling the still sadly prevalent stigma.

If you can spare just a couple of pounds for this worthy cause (and also give me a metaphorical kick up the butt to help me make it up the biiiiggg hills along the way), then it couldn't be easier.  The first link in my sig will take you straight to my Sheffield Half Marathon just giving page.

Finally,  thank you to those blondes who have already generously donated, and thank you in advance to anyone that does so :)  

Hi Claire.

I'd like to make a small donatiion, but I don't ever use "JustGiving" as they charge a 5% commission, and a credit card processing fee, & I do not agree with that, so I have sent you a small donation by Bank TX.

Good luck.

thanks Tikay - confirmed received.  I'll make a card payment direct to the charity via their website (which I presume will be the most cost effective way of doing things) and email you a copy of the receipt.

Don't need that (a receipt) Claire, I just have a principled stubborn objection to using "JustGiving".

Good luck with the run thing.

meh too late i've already sent it. 

tyty - luck equally gratefully received :D

bump.  This time next week I'll be a half-marathoner :D

ty for donations so far - have raised a not-too-shabby £243 which I'm really pleased with, but would be great to hit £300.

Never knew this.

Nice to have an excuse to continue not to use them.

slightly misleading. they take the 5% from the giftaid that they reclaim from the govt. it would cost the charities more than that to claim the giftaid themselves and they can't claim it on a lot of donations received through other methods. charities use them because they make more money than by not using them

nearly £1.20 goes to the charity for every £1 you donate

I used to work for a company that processed a lot of charity donations - it really wasn't cheap for the charities.

I have heard - and I have no reason to disbelieve - that JustGiving is the cheapest way any charity can collect donations apart from people just showing up and giving them cash.