Morning all,
I would not normally send such an email, but a VERY long serving Shenley Village member who has played in the Club's 1st XI since 2008, Lloyd Willingham, is running a marathon, (not the London marathon), on Sunday, August 21st to raise money for a charity called Home-Start UK. His run will be from Hemel Hempstead to Woburn (where his young daughter goes school).
His choice of charity and indeed the reason for his run in very poignant given the times in which live. Home-Start UK, (https://www.home-start.org.uk/), helps families in crisis within the local boroughs, whether that be due to bereavement, physical or mental ill health or if they are just generally struggling to keep a roof above their kids heads and food on the table. Lloyd's effort is all the more remarkable in that he has been carrying quite a serious knee injury for almost a year now, which has restricted his ability to play for the Club this year to just two appearances.
Lloyd is behind where he wanted to be with his fundraising and would hugely appreciate support from his beloved Shenley family. He posted the following on Facebook this morning to bolster support for his run:
"Less than 2 weeks out from running my marathon and things are starting to feel real! My mind is no longer thinking about the physical aspect of this challenge but is now fully on my ‘why’!
Teaching Mila, (his young daughter referred to above), about why I am doing this and who I am doing this for, has added another dimension. We constantly remind her of how lucky she is to have a loving family, a roof over her head and food on the table. This has been an opportunity to teach her that those things are not guaranteed and we must help others who do not have those things. The more we can all do to help one an other, the better this world will be!
If anyone hasn’t got plans for Sunday 21st August and would like to come to the finish line, I plan to be at Woburn Village Hall (MK17 9QD) for 12pm. We will then be having a few drinks at ‘The Woburn’ Hotel (MK17 9PX) from 12:15pm. The Woburn Village market will also be on that morning so it should be a lovely day around the high street. It would be amazing to see some familiar faces. If you would like to donate please follow the link below."
The website for his local charity borough is:
Home-Start Watford, Three Rivers & Hertsmere | We're there for parents when they need us the most, because childhood can’t wait.
His fundraising page is: https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/lloyds-marathon-for-home-start-uk
On behalf of the Club and Lloyd, thanking anyone in advance who can donate to this very worthy cause!
Kind regards, George