I'm running the London marathon to combine two passions of mine: my love of running and helping to raise funds for Oxfordshire Mencap. Mencap provide UK residential respite holidays and short breaks for adults and yourng people with severe learning disabilities. This gives their carers a well needed break, and those on the holidays a safe place to experience things they cannot normally do during their short lives.

My sister May has had her summer holiday with Mencap for years and it is the absolute highlight of her year. She talks about it all year round! My Mum also gets a week off which is a very well earned rest. Looking after a 30 year old with severe mental and physical disabilities is no mean feat. Although familes pay towards the holidays, the centre still needs £55000 per year to keep running, and all of that is from charitable donations. There is so little help for families with a disabled loved one, and charities like Mencap are a small ray of sunshine in a very bleak world. 

Please donate what you can. You will provide happiness to so many families.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.