Jake Pittman from the 1917 Society and his fellow Old Citizen Anish Somasekarem are running the London Marathon on Sunday – and they need your help!
Jake and Anish were both in Old Grammar together in 2002 and are still close to this day. Their stories are below, and they would greatly appreciate any donations from fellow Old Citizens to help them on their way.
Anish
I need help raising £5000 for St Joseph's Hospice in East London and I'm hoping you will be so generous to help me!
My sister and I have signed up for the London Marathon because we have seen the amazing work St Joseph's carry out. Not only in terms of palliative care, but for over 1,700 people with life-limiting conditions every year, treatment is provided - free of charge. The hospice is a hub for a hugely diverse community and manages to give people comfort and hope during times when it is easy to only see darkness.
I implore you to sponsor us and help this establishment continue the outstanding work they have been carrying out for over 100 years. Also, the overwhelming guilt of sponsorship will definitely be a push factor to train harder!
Seriously, the closest I get to leg day is when they give me the wrong order at Nandos.
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/runfamrun
Jake
On Sunday I will run the London Marathon, my first marathon, having been (un)lucky enough to get a place in the 2017 ballot.
I want to use this opportunity to raise money for a cause that is close to my heart: the Anna Crossman Trust for Kids in Kerala. The Trust was set up in memory of Anna, a friend who tragically died while we were on holiday in 2013, aged 20. It was inspired by her time teaching in schools and orphanages in the southern Indian state of Kerala and aims to improve the education and quality of life of children in the region.
Any donation would make a huge difference to the quality of life of these children. For example, current donors are funding:
· Annual school fees for 25 children whose parents can’t afford to keep them in education. (Many schools in India charge fees; in Kerala the average cost is £75 per child per year.)
· A generator to avoid the disruption of frequent power cuts in the school.
· Scholarships for five girls at the Orphanage, funding their education from age 5-18, including a year at a technical college.
· Refurbishment of the top floor of the Orphanage – currently just an empty concrete space – to provide an assembly hall and small library.
· A medical and counselling fund for the girls.
I am pleased to say that training is progressing well and I plan to leverage my lanky stride length to run it in 3 hours and 30 minutes. Any donations you kindly give will provide even more motivation to achieve this goal!
For more information, or to donate, please click the link below
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/VLM4ACT