Hi everyone,

This October I will be attempting my first ever full marathon. What was a fleeting and vague idea on new years eve has now turned into reality!

For the past eight months I have been slogging out the kilometers on cold winter mornings and nights through all the elements - rain, wind, sun, hail. I've trained through injuries, I've trained in darkness, and have even trained the morning after Friday night drinks (I really don't recommend that one!).

I constantly smell of deep heat, and am starting to get tired of carting my training gear around with me everywhere to 'squeeze in a run' on my way to and from work. Sometimes I love running, sometimes I hate it, but one thing that is consistent is that I am determined not to give up! I still have so much work to do before I can run the full distance of 42km, but the end is almost in sight!

As the count down is on, with only seven weeks to go, I have decided to support a cause that is close to my heart, and try to raise some much needed funds for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC). No one chooses to be an Asylum Seeker, and I am passionate about supporting people who have fled their country in fear of persecution, war or violence, and supporting the vision that all human beings, regardless of race or religion, are entitled to the right to work, education, and a life free from persection.

Any donation, no matter how big or small, would be greatly appreciated. The ASRC receives no Federal Government Funding and relies on donations from the community to survive. All money raised will go directly to providing essential services to asylum seekers, such as food, medicine, nappies, english classes, legal assistance, counselling, crisis support and employment programs.

As an example:

• $5 will pay for 1 English as a Second Language (ESL) Class for 20 people
• $10 will pay for a food parcel to feed an asylum-seeker family for a week
• $55 will pay for a week’s worth of medical care for 10 asylum-seeker children who have no access to Medicare

Alex