Goodbye to The Children's Foundation

During the summer I took the opportunity to take a really good look at what I've been able to achieve from a fundraising point of view so far and what I want to do in the future. I use the term "I" loosely because of the incredible generosity and support that I've received from so many people to be able to raise (at the time of writing) £290,669.12. 

So far, £23,043.47 from the grand total of £290,669.12 has been raised in 2017. I'm on target to smash my personal fundraising target of £50,000 for this current fundraising campaign which, of course, concludes with segment five of the run around the world; a 2,900 mile run from Belgrade to Astana next year. The funds raised to date can be seen below by charity and by fundraising campaign.

So that is what has gone on in the past. What about the future? 

Firstly, during the summer I made the difficult decision to cease fundraising for The Children's Foundation at the end of 2017. It was a decision that wasn't taken lightly but with £141,475.79 raised over the last eight years I think I can depart after a job well done. I've really enjoyed fundraising for the charity and I'd like to thank their staff and Libby Nolan and Peregrine Solly in particular for the advice and support they gave me. 

I was very proud to receive the following reply to my "resignation" from The Children's Foundation this month. 

So that brings a successful end to one particular era of my fundraising. The next very important step is to approach a charity and seek permission to fundraise in respect of stage 5 of the Run Around The World. That will only be done when Donna and I have signed off the run to Astana in a few weeks time. Watch this space during November for news on how that all goes.

November is make or break

Planning, research and preparation for stage five of the run around the world is going very well. A great deal of work has been done this year. We are now in the final stages of making sure that we have a plan to make the 2,900 mile run from Belgrade, Serbia through Romania, Ukraine, Russia to Astana in Kazakhstan as safe as it possibly can be.

Donna and I will make the decision on whether or not to proceed by the 10th November 2017. We will then look to gain charity endorsement by the 24th November 2017. After that, it's all systems go with just over 150 days until the start in Belgrade.

So November is a "make or break" month for the run around the world. We are doing everything that we possibly can. We are talking to the right people, devising the best plans and, as has been the case for the previous 9,000 miles, leaving no stone unturned in terms of planning and preparation.

As per usual, I'll keep Twitter, Facebook and this blog updated with any news.