Today I hit a milestone... halfway towards the first fundraising target of £1000. Many people have made very generous donations to help me reach the point and I would like to thank them all publicly.
So... a huge thank you goes out to: (deep breath) Rose Dawson, Irene Dawson, Dean Jones, Charlie Prior, Greg Shepherd, Jon Stretton Knowles, Claire Owen, Carl Smith, Nicola Townsend, Danielle Weigner, Amanda Geldard, Abby Legge, George Allison, Paul Carter, John Pearson, Kelli Hayward, Mark Mackay, Alexia Mathews, David Quinn, Gerry Rock, Pavan Kumar Vadlamudi, Kim Freshwater and Pauline Sharp.
Thank you every one of you. You really have helped us achieve something great.
xXx
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
A degree of success
As some of you may know, I am currently studying for my Politics, Philosophy and Economics degree with the Open University. I started this back in late 2010 after my second visit to the Gambia. I knew by this point that I wanted to take the sort of training I do here, out there to try and make a difference. I had a good idea, and not much else. I decided to do my PPE degree, which I can follow with a Masters in West African Politics. I completed the first module in 2011, which I passed ( it is a straight pass or fail unit) and have just got my results for my L5 philosophy module - a 2:1! Exactly what I wanted!
I still have a long way to go: My L5 politics module starts in October, L5 Economics starts in Feb 2013. I am a bit daunted by having several months doing two modules at the same time but I figure it will be worth it so that by next October I have completed all L4 and L5 modules. That leaves two L6 modules to do, one in 2014 and one in 2015, and then it is time for the Cap and Gown ceremony!
The aim to get a 2:1 as a final degree result. With my full time job and running commitments I am not even going to think about a 1st. So, it has started well. The hard work paid off and I am now fully on my way. :0)
xXx
I still have a long way to go: My L5 politics module starts in October, L5 Economics starts in Feb 2013. I am a bit daunted by having several months doing two modules at the same time but I figure it will be worth it so that by next October I have completed all L4 and L5 modules. That leaves two L6 modules to do, one in 2014 and one in 2015, and then it is time for the Cap and Gown ceremony!
The aim to get a 2:1 as a final degree result. With my full time job and running commitments I am not even going to think about a 1st. So, it has started well. The hard work paid off and I am now fully on my way. :0)
xXx
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Definite progress...
Progress with injury recovery and running, progress with my fundraising efforts and progress with other fundraising events. So, one at time, in detail!
Progress with my running: Tonight I managed to complete a 5k on the treadmill in 33 minutes. I felt a slight twinge from about 28 minutes but generally, felt pretty good. It was hard but I expected that due to my lack of discipline with my eating and a deterioation in my fitness levels. However, it is a great progression and I am very, very happy. I'm feeling more sure that I won't be ready to complete the Farnham Half Marathon in September as I cannot see a way to reach this distance in the short time I have without damaging myself again but I am not writing it off completely just yet.
Progress with my fundraising efforts: Three people have made generous donations in the last week, taking my closer to the £500 mark which is half way to my original total. One of my colleagues at work has made a very generous gesture as well. It is her 25th wedding anniversary very soon and instead of asking for presents, she has asked friends and family to make donations to our project. She has warned me not to expect much but I am very moved by just the thought. It is a very lovely thing to do and it is greatly appreciated by everyone involved!
Progress with fundraising events: I have confirmed a date for the work place bake sale, although I do still have to ensure it is ok with the big bosses, I am sure this will be ok. I am aiming to hold a better event than the last one with better advertising to try and encourage people to come and buy cakes. And as Abby pointed out, she has been on a cake baking course now so we can expect a higher quality of cake! I have also secured a venue for the charity quiz night and I forgot (!) that I have a friend with their own pub who has very generously agreed to let us use the venue. This event is still in the very early stages but I am very excited about it. My mum even found a cuddly toy at a charity sale that we can use for a name the bear competition. One detail done, one thousand to go!
As always, I will keep you all up to date with things but needless to say I am motivated, excited, and overall, grateful and moved by peoples support. Thank you for reading this and showing an interest in what I am trying to achieve.
Much love, xXx
Progress with my running: Tonight I managed to complete a 5k on the treadmill in 33 minutes. I felt a slight twinge from about 28 minutes but generally, felt pretty good. It was hard but I expected that due to my lack of discipline with my eating and a deterioation in my fitness levels. However, it is a great progression and I am very, very happy. I'm feeling more sure that I won't be ready to complete the Farnham Half Marathon in September as I cannot see a way to reach this distance in the short time I have without damaging myself again but I am not writing it off completely just yet.
Progress with my fundraising efforts: Three people have made generous donations in the last week, taking my closer to the £500 mark which is half way to my original total. One of my colleagues at work has made a very generous gesture as well. It is her 25th wedding anniversary very soon and instead of asking for presents, she has asked friends and family to make donations to our project. She has warned me not to expect much but I am very moved by just the thought. It is a very lovely thing to do and it is greatly appreciated by everyone involved!
Progress with fundraising events: I have confirmed a date for the work place bake sale, although I do still have to ensure it is ok with the big bosses, I am sure this will be ok. I am aiming to hold a better event than the last one with better advertising to try and encourage people to come and buy cakes. And as Abby pointed out, she has been on a cake baking course now so we can expect a higher quality of cake! I have also secured a venue for the charity quiz night and I forgot (!) that I have a friend with their own pub who has very generously agreed to let us use the venue. This event is still in the very early stages but I am very excited about it. My mum even found a cuddly toy at a charity sale that we can use for a name the bear competition. One detail done, one thousand to go!
As always, I will keep you all up to date with things but needless to say I am motivated, excited, and overall, grateful and moved by peoples support. Thank you for reading this and showing an interest in what I am trying to achieve.
Much love, xXx
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
This post is important. We need your support
OK, so this blog doesn't have a huge readership but it does ok and anyone thats stops by to see what this is all about could get involved and help.
We need to secure £50,000 as soon as possible.
This money is for the first stage of the build, to clear the land ready for the build, erect a 6ft. high cement wall, with steel gates and a security/store hut, and to dig a well, on the 150sq.meter piece of land which has been kindly donated by the Chief of the village of Brufut, Gambia West Africa. All legal papers signed and sealed.
We need people to donate whatever they can or even better hold a fundraising event and get involved in really making a difference to a country that really, truly, needs our support. This project is so important and will honestly change the lives of communities across the Gambia. And, then, this is only the start... we want this project to be a blue print for projects all around the world wherever it is needed.
Please check out my just giving page for more information about the project and ways to donate: www.justgiving.com/Liza-Done-Bantaba-Project
If you would like to get involved, have an idea for a fundraising project, or you can help with promotion and help us spread the word of our work then please email me lizadone7@aol.com
Thank you for reading xXx
We need to secure £50,000 as soon as possible.
This money is for the first stage of the build, to clear the land ready for the build, erect a 6ft. high cement wall, with steel gates and a security/store hut, and to dig a well, on the 150sq.meter piece of land which has been kindly donated by the Chief of the village of Brufut, Gambia West Africa. All legal papers signed and sealed.
We need people to donate whatever they can or even better hold a fundraising event and get involved in really making a difference to a country that really, truly, needs our support. This project is so important and will honestly change the lives of communities across the Gambia. And, then, this is only the start... we want this project to be a blue print for projects all around the world wherever it is needed.
Please check out my just giving page for more information about the project and ways to donate: www.justgiving.com/Liza-Done-Bantaba-Project
If you would like to get involved, have an idea for a fundraising project, or you can help with promotion and help us spread the word of our work then please email me lizadone7@aol.com
Thank you for reading xXx
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Injury recovery is not going very well :0(
I started on rebuilding my running last week as I said I would and the news is not great. I went to the gym on Tuesdays instead of meeting with the running club. Due to the rubbish weather, grass running has not really appealed to me so I figured that the treadmill would be the next best thing.
Last Tuesday I managed to run for 20 minutes. I had planned to do a 30 minute 5k but at 19 minutes things started to twinge so I stopped before doing anymore damage.
This Tuesday I felt a little more confident that the 30 minute 5k was within my grasp but at 14 minutes I felt the familair tell tale signs of the onset of pain. I was very disappointed and ready to walk out of the gym. Luckily I was being watched by Becca, one of the trainers who is very aware of my situation, and she pushed me (not literally) on to the cross trainer to do a 15 minute set of interval training. No pain as no impact and at least I did something to keep some of my fitness.
I am starting to become slightly concerned that I am really not healing as quickly as needed. My next entered race in the Farnham Half Marathon in September and it is not far away now. How am I going to complete a half marathon if I cannot complete 5k???? I am trying not to panic just yet but fear is starting to set in. Everyone keeps telling me not to worry, people will understand if I don't manage to complete the full fund raising task, it's hardly my fault, or a lack of effort and I get that but... I feel like I still have to get it done. I guess only time will tell! I will, as always, keep you posted.
xXx
Last Tuesday I managed to run for 20 minutes. I had planned to do a 30 minute 5k but at 19 minutes things started to twinge so I stopped before doing anymore damage.
This Tuesday I felt a little more confident that the 30 minute 5k was within my grasp but at 14 minutes I felt the familair tell tale signs of the onset of pain. I was very disappointed and ready to walk out of the gym. Luckily I was being watched by Becca, one of the trainers who is very aware of my situation, and she pushed me (not literally) on to the cross trainer to do a 15 minute set of interval training. No pain as no impact and at least I did something to keep some of my fitness.
I am starting to become slightly concerned that I am really not healing as quickly as needed. My next entered race in the Farnham Half Marathon in September and it is not far away now. How am I going to complete a half marathon if I cannot complete 5k???? I am trying not to panic just yet but fear is starting to set in. Everyone keeps telling me not to worry, people will understand if I don't manage to complete the full fund raising task, it's hardly my fault, or a lack of effort and I get that but... I feel like I still have to get it done. I guess only time will tell! I will, as always, keep you posted.
xXx
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