It is now just over a week since I finished running across the USA. Naturally, the donations for St Benedict's Hospice and The Children's Foundation are coming in at a slower rate compared to previous weeks. Or so you'd think!
The charity fund today burst through the £85,000 barrier and now stands at an absolutely amazing £85,212.56 (That's just over $140,000 USD). So many amazing donations have gone to make up that total and some big ones this week from The Holbrook Family, Gary Megennis, Martin Scott (who I got talking to on the flight back to the UK last week), Michael Gallon, Straightline Construction, Mark Howmans, Cathryn Hunt, the guys at Beach Bootcamp, Neil Porter, Ivor Potter, Keith Riley, Paul Connolly, Mohammad Mansoori, Nick Davison, Alexander Baker and the list goes on and on and on. It will take me some time to get round to thanking everyone who left an email address on justgiving.com personally. Please bear with me. I will get round to it. There are just so many of you! Fantastic!
I had my 2nd appointment at the Jesmond Clinic with Alison after work. She was very pleased with the recovery my feet had made to date and continued to do further chiropody work and massage on my feet and ankles. She thinks that I'm only a week away from running. I can't tell you just how much I'm desperate to get my trainers back on and hit the streets again.
I've had some nice emails from a couple of running clubs this week. I'll be pursuing these with a view to getting some quality back in my running. It'll also be nice to have some company during my runs after work.
Thanks also to those folk who have been in touch about after dinner speaking. I'm really flattered that people are keen to listen to what I have to say about the run across the USA. The first engagement that I have is at the Leisureworks Sports & Physical Activity Awards on the 16th September. Taking the audience on the journey across the USA in my allotted 20 minute time slot is going to be a huge challenge. I'm really looking forward to it and the fee that I'll be receiving will be donated to The Children's Foundation.
Finally, thanks to everyone who has bought tickets for the Run Geordie Run Ball on September 3rd. Thanks also to the many companies and individuals who have donated a prize for the raffle and auction. Your help is greatly appreciated.
In other news, I returned to work today to an elaborately decorated desk. There were balloons, a nice banner and hundreds of photos of the run all over the place. It was a nice touch and I felt immediately welcome when I got back to the office. I'm very lucky to have a job after quitting my post to do the run. I had envisaged applying for jobs while I was running across the USA. To be asked to return to work the week before I left for the USA took a lot of pressure off me.
I had my 2nd appointment at the Jesmond Clinic with Alison after work. She was very pleased with the recovery my feet had made to date and continued to do further chiropody work and massage on my feet and ankles. She thinks that I'm only a week away from running. I can't tell you just how much I'm desperate to get my trainers back on and hit the streets again.
I've had some nice emails from a couple of running clubs this week. I'll be pursuing these with a view to getting some quality back in my running. It'll also be nice to have some company during my runs after work.
Thanks also to those folk who have been in touch about after dinner speaking. I'm really flattered that people are keen to listen to what I have to say about the run across the USA. The first engagement that I have is at the Leisureworks Sports & Physical Activity Awards on the 16th September. Taking the audience on the journey across the USA in my allotted 20 minute time slot is going to be a huge challenge. I'm really looking forward to it and the fee that I'll be receiving will be donated to The Children's Foundation.
Finally, thanks to everyone who has bought tickets for the Run Geordie Run Ball on September 3rd. Thanks also to the many companies and individuals who have donated a prize for the raffle and auction. Your help is greatly appreciated.
For those who don't know, the event will be hosted by Real Radio's Gary and Lisa. The Run Geordie Run charity ball promises to be the homecoming of all homecomings. As well as the usual auctions, games and emotional speeches we will be creating a mini Las Vegas casino for you to win your (virtual) fortune.
Not content with stopping at the bright lights of Vegas, there will be a hint of New York thrown in with our entertainment being provided by the North East's very own crooner Jason Isaacs and a full big band (with 3 lovely backing singers too!).
Tickets for the black tie event are £65 each or £600 for a table of ten. Please hurry if you would like to attend. Click the link below the poster to reserve tickets or please get in touch at sponsorship@rungeordierun.com if you have any questions.
