In 2012, my sister persuaded me to pick up some running shoes and run a 5k.It took quite a bit of persuasion, but finally I gave it a 5k parkrun a go andhave never looked back!

As a previous volunteer and current trustee of the Amani Centre (forchildren with disabilities), completing a running challenge gives me anopportunity to raise money for the centre and the great work it does as well aschallenging myself.

The last time I did a sponsored event for The Amani Centre was in July2014, when I trained to complete a 10 miler (which nearly finished me off!!).In the 18 months since then, I’ve managed to reach the level of completing 13miles. If I’m going to be asking for money, it must be a challenge so thistime, I’m going to run 26.2 miles! MY FIRST MARATHON!!! – in just 5 months’time.! This is going to take a lot of training, time, perseverance and mostlikely a lot of pain, but I’m determined to succeed and hope to raise a lot ofmoney for the centre along the way!

Amani Centre Website

http://amanicentremorogoro.weebly.com/

Background

For those of you who don't know, I have spent over a year (on 3 separateoccasions) volunteering at the Amani Centre in Morogoro, Tanzania. Last year, Iwas asked to become a trustee of The Friends of Amani Tanzania. We are a smallgroup of trustees who provide support – with every penny we fundraise goingdirectly to the centre. I now continue to support the centre mainly throughmanaging the child sponsorship programme and fundraising (if anyone isinterested in sponsoring one of the children who does not yet have a sponsor, pleaseget in touch!).

The services the centre provides are free to the communities, thus thecentre relies solely on donations. The Amani staff visit families who have achild with disabilities, to educate them on how to enable their child to engagein the community. Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy is taught to parentsso those who cannot reach the centre can continue to appropriately care fortheir child in their own homes. As well as this, a number of children live atthe centre, enabling them to have daily education and therapy according totheir needs. All of this is done free of charge!

New children arrive at the centre daily - sometimes just left there. Thesechildren do not get turned away from the centre – they are given theopportunity to have therapy if required, get an education and are provided withfood and care.

With the growing number of children who are reaching out to the Amani Centrefor help, I am trying to raise as much as I can so no child has to be turnedaway.

If anyone wants any more information about the centre, please get in touch.Otherwise – any amount raised helps! £15.00 helps support 1 child for 1 month –providing them with food, shelter, clothing, medication and an education. JUST£15.00!!!