On the 3rd April, Old Boy Jon Staines ran in the Paris Marathon, raising money for Mencap, a charity focused on supporting people with learning difficulties. He ran in an impressive 2 hours and 52 minutes, raising around £2,500 – if you wish to donate to Mencap and Jon’s efforts click here.
Please read Jon’s story:
For those who may not be aware, my younger brother Sam lives with a learning disability which makes it more difficult for him to engage with many of the things that we take for granted. Activities such as cooking, washing clothes and household shopping can all represent stressful tasks to face independently.
Thankfully he is able to enjoy an exciting, fulfilling life with the help of generous individuals who invest their time in supporting those who may need more support.
Throughout the pandemic, two activities which Sam has enjoyed the most are: regular dance/drama sessions with Showstoppers; and performing with his friends at The Music Man Project – two amazing projects run by our local Mencap branch which bring enjoyment to so many people like my brother.
Mencap are a charity who are focused on valuing and supporting people with learning difficulties, as well as their families and carers. They do this through important services such as employment advice, supported living arrangements and social care programmes.
Living with a learning disability is not always easy but it is incredibly enriching to see such people excel.
By donating a small sum, you can make a huge difference to thousands of lives by helping carers and volunteers to continue investing in valuable services which benefit the lives of people with learning disabilities.
So while I look forward to running significantly further than I ever have done before, please take a moment to consider donating via the link above.
Thanks and wish me luck!
Jon
