News from the Home and funding update

I had some news from Bethany Home in Nairobi at the end of November. Two more girls have been brought to the house from a slum in Nairobi. This has added pressure as space is already tight but Shiro and Joseph felt they could not reject the girls. Their names are Mariam and Rehana, victims of child labour and suspected abuse.
More than ever help is needed and Christmas time is not far. 
I will post this week the summary of available funds collected so far that are ready to support the Home's most urgent needs. Joseph has listed this and they include rain boots, coats, school uniforms, books, mosquito nets, bed linen and school shoes for the new girls...etc
As it was my intention, every spend will be receipted. I am trying to work out the logistics for the transfer and this is taking time

Just a reminder and update

I can hardly believe it is already a month since the Cardiff Half-marathon. As I already explained, I am planning to keep this initiative open and keep running this year to improve my time in the 2016 half in Cardiff. I have not planned all the races I will do in 2016, before Cardiff but I will update you here as soon as I have some dates and events.

I had some news from Joseph about Bethany House and also some very nice encouraging words from him. The girls are back in school after the teacher's strike and winter is starting.
I wanted to say thank you again to those who have already donated and make another call to those who would like to before I start working with Joseph to decide what are the main things the girls need. I know they already need rain coats and boots. As it has always been my intention, I will coordinate with Joseph what is bought and give details here and on the blog so you see where the money goes and how it helps.

The Challenge continues

The training has not stopped and I need to do more Interval training in particular to increase my pace. I am determined to improve my time next year and drop below the 2 hours I did.
I am motivated and inspired and I will continue with this running challenge to support Bethany Village Africa Home.
I have not consolidated quite yet all the donations but so far it looks like we have about $800. Thank you very much to all who have donated so generously. Those who would like to d...onate and still have not done it, no problem at all as the page for donations will stay open. I will keep updating on running challenges before next year's Half again and I will update on donations received and when I will be able to arrange with Joseph the first action to support the girls at the Home in Nairobi.
I am afraid I am not good at posting on Facebook as things happen so I belatedly include on this post a couple of selfies taken at the end of the race on the 4th of October in Cardiff

Cardiff Half-Marathon Completed

It was a great event, really enjoyed my first Half-Marathon. Time was exactly two hours: 2h 0m 0s.
A few more donations have also been received, I will update. thank you all!!!

This is a link to the race results:

http://track.rtrt.me/e/TDL-CARDIFF-2015#/tracker/R5WGAL4Y/focus

Training in Travemünde this week

This week I will be training in Travemünde (Germany), great promenade and coastal path to Timmendorfer Strand

Swansea Bay 10km Completed

Completed the Swansea Bay 10km Race today in 52' 03'', hard work but fun.

Two Kenyans finished first and second:
https://www.fullonsport.com/ev…/swansea-bay-10k-2015/results

Nutrition and Preparation

Not only I am learning about social media with this challenge but also a lot about long distance running. One of the things I had not put a lot of thought into is how I need to fuel and hydrate myself to be able to keep running for about two hours.

As part of my training, one of the days I go out running in the week, I try to increase the distance closer to the 21 kms I will have to run on the 4th of October. In the past, when jogging, I have been out running a maximum of about 12 kms so the first time I ran about 18 kms in the evening I understood how important is to build up reserves of carbohydrates as well as drink enough to keep hydrated. After I completed about 10 kms all I could think of was food and a big glass of cold water, the last 8 kms felt very long and when I got back home, I ran straight to the kitchen!

Back to School for the Girls

As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently had some news from Joseph about the girls and how they have spent the summer.
They seem to have had some fun during the school break. They played and they were also given some fun books to read.

Most of the girls got good results at the last term although there are still some needing a bit of encouragement to achieve their best.

Schools re-opened Monday the 31st of August.The girls were happy to get back to School see their friends again. However, 6 of the girls who are in a public school had to stay back at the house as public school teachers are holding a national strike. (they want better pay!!).

This does not mean they are extending their holiday as they are being encourage to revise daily at the house until the strike is resolved.

Joseph and all at the house have been very busy the last couple of weeks in order to make sure the girls have the basic things they need for school.
Another trip to Western Kenya soon to get some maize from Shiro's parents.This is a huge help to feed the girls preparing some local meals. I hope this means Ugali, I love it!!

I have heard the girls are in need of new School uniforms and casual clothes as they are out-growing what they currently have. I hope the money we raise will help.

Fundraising update

Quick update on the fundraising. A big thank you to all those who have already very generously contibuted. The money raised so far is just over four hundred US dollars.
I received some news from Joseph, telling me how the girls are doing and how the start of the new school year is going; I will summarise shortly

Back posting and still training

I apologize for the long time since the last post, due to the summer break. I am back now and I have just confirmed my Entry to the Swansea Bay 10km Race on the 20th of September. Not long to go!!!

Swansea Bay 10Km Race

As part of my training and build up to the half-marathon in Cardiff, I am planning to run the Swansea Bay 10K on the 20th of September:
http://www.swanseabay10k.com/

Why am I doing this?

I wanted to explain a bit more why I have decided to bother my friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and just about every body I meet these days, with a very small project to raise funds to help an enormously kind and generous couple in Kenya to provide shelter, education and support to a group of sixteen young girls.

I recently read a newspaper column originally published in 2005 that made a reference to Bob Geldof's efforts in 2005 with the Live 8 concerts to focus the world's attention on the G8 conference, taking place at Gleneagles. Perhaps after Live Aid in 1985 he realized he could not make a difference, but he could bring pressure to bear on those who can.

Live Aid raised in 1985 an amount of £79,426,252. The journalist writing the article said how one year after Live Aid he visited Mali and asked some villagers if they had seen any of the money. "No", said one, taking him outside and pointing at the soldiers. "But they all have new guns"

The above may sound a bit frivolous but, apparently, different reports suggest that £6 in every £10 of aid is spent on consultants who work out how the money can be spent and on reports, presumably, into how much those consultants cost.

I have for a long time wanted to make some difference helping directly vulnerable people. Just giving money to large organisations did not satisfy me so when I saw this opportunity on my travels in Africa, I could not resist it.

The money I raise will be spent directly on supporting the house and I will detail costs of items bought, house maintenance expenses, school fees paid...etc 

News on Funding effort!

Some really good news on the funding (http://gogetfunding.com/bethany-village-home-kenya/). We received the first official donation from a very interesting and generous person I met last Wednesday on the Eurostar from London to Lille. A really big thank you!!!

October the 4th is getting closer!!

The organizers have changed the course due to rail improvements work but it still covers the main landmarks of Cardiff and has the 21kms!!

Ras i'r Bannau 2015 Brecon 5km race Results

And the official results are out:


http://www.breconac.org.uk/images/2015/ras_ir_bannau_2015_results.pdf

Ras i'r Bannau 2015 Brecon 5km race completed this morning

...together with friends from the Brecon basketball team, hard but very good fun. Times not yet published...

5km Fun Run in Brecon

As part of my training I will do a 5km Fun Run in our town this coming Sunday the 28th of June:

http://www.breconac.org.uk/…/road-r…/119-ras-i-r-bannau-2015