SHAMELESS APPEALS

As I said to my church recently, everyone's after your money! Every shop, business, and huckster would gladly relieve you of the contents of your wallet, and all of us hand it over in many ways and for many reasons. However, some reasons are better than others and there are a couple of 'good causes' I would encourage you to look up.

One is Epic Run. Starting next week Sam Boatman is running 50 miles for 50 days raising money for Help for Heroes. This is a simply phenomenal attempt to make and I'm not sure the human body can take that kind of punishment so it will be interesting to see how Sam gets on. The Olympic Torch will soon be making its rounds of the UK but to be honest I'd much rather cheer the epic runner on as he staggers around the country.

The second good cause is Simon Guillebaud & chums from Bike for Burundi cycling across America. This is not quite in the same league as Epic Run, but is a touch challenge nonetheless, and Simon is a very entertaining blogger. In this case, the lads are raising money for the work Simon's GLO organisation is doing with pygmies and orphans in Burundi - it's a fantastic project and worth supporting.

And then third, and very much last and least, is my own marathon running effort on April 15 in aid of Friends First. Merely running a marathon feels rather pitiful compared with Epic Run and Bike for Burundi, but I'd still be glad of your support!

Yes, we're all after your money - but this is a good way to spend it!