Running4Rwanda

After going 2 years without running a half-marathon, the next race on the horizon is another half - the GNW half-marathon at Blackpool on 22nd February. This is another big event, with over 1200 entries, and attracts runners from all over the country. I will be using the event to raise funds for the Shyira Trust, and also to raise awareness of this website, and its fund-raising objectives. As always, every penny raised goes to Shyira in Rwanda, and is used to help fund the training of a midwife for Shyira maternity hospital. My fund-raising pages can be found at www.bmycharity.com/petermorganGNW09 or by using the 'my appeal' widget on the right of this page. Thank you for your support

This was never going to be an easy run - it was my first half-marathon in 2 years (or was it 3 ?), so I didn't know quite what to expect. I knew it was likely to be hard, but I wasn't quite sure how I would cope. As it turned out, I was quite pleased. I was happy to go round in 8 min/mile, giving me a time of 1hr 45, but I went through the first 4 miles in under 30 mins, and 8 miles in just on 60 mins, so although I slowed after about 6 miles, I knew that if I could keep to 8 min/mile, I could manage 1:40. There was a long downhill stretch after 11 miles, so I speeded up, and managed to finish in a time of 1:38:43. So very happy ! On a fund-raising note, this was not about raising money - this was more about raising awareness. I managed to hand out some 'running4rwanda' leaflets, and have had some feedback, so in that sense - mission accomplished

The photo on the left was taken on the Helsby Half Marathon course (with thanks to Natalie Rees for use of the photo ). It shows a view of a typical rural village in North-West England. The one on the right shows a view of a typical rural village in North-West Rwanda. This is Shyira. The building in the foreground is one of the secondary schools, the building in the far left background is the Maternity Hospital. Beyond that is the rest of the hospital, with the church, nursery school and primary school further out of sight. The photo was taken from the road to the main secondary school, and shows the main road (yes - this is the main road) through the village, with the road to the right going down into the valley towards Bihembe, before following the valley side, down towards the Ruhengeri-Giterama road. To get to Shyira, you need to be in a 4x4, or be prepared for a long walk !

January sees a new challenge - the Four Villages Half Marathon at Helsby, Cheshire. Not quite as big as the Liverpool Santa Dash (about 2000 entrants, compared to 7000), but more of a personal challenge - this will be my first half marathon in several years, so I'm not quite sure what I'm letting myself in for ! My fund raising will be very low key, but if I do raise any sponsorship, it will all go towards the Maternity Hospital and Safe Motherhood projects in Shyira, Rwanda. My fund-raising pages can be found at www.bmycharity.com/petermorganhelsby09 or by using the 'my appeal' widget on the right of this page. Thank you for your support

Well, Christmas is over, so it's time to close the Santa Dash thread, and announce the final figure raised. The grand total was £429 - mainly in cash and cheques, but some through on-line donations. I would like to give a big 'Thank You' to all those people who donated, regardless of how the money was given. The money has nearly all been collected, and sent for transfer to Rwanda. It has been added to money already raised throughout the year, so the funding is in place for next year's University fees for the new student-midwife, Fidele, whose course starts later this month. Once more - many thanks - your support is appreciated

Before I get to the serious business of totting up proceeds (should be several hundred pounds), here's a brief report on the day's events. On arrival, the place was heaving. The sight of thousands of Santas milling about (they reckon about 7000), is about as surreal a sight as you can imagine. But I managed to get near the front, and had a good run. Ran strongly, and wasn't overtaken, apart from a few near the start, and a couple of sprinters at the finish. Felt so good at the end, that instead of going for a warm-down, decided to run the route again, to soak up some of the atmosphere. Started passing tail-enders after just a few hundred metres ! Admittedly they were walking on stilts, or pushing beds or prams, but I was pretty soon back in the main body of the joggers. Sight was amazing - route took you along a section of flyover, a short section of streets, then back along an adjacent flyover. Just masses of Santas heading in both directions. Awesome ! Spoke to the organ...

As reported in the Liverpool Daily Post: click here and look for 'Formby'