Berlin Marathon fundraising update: Painting day for Orphans in Cambodia

"Team Runny Honney" - A small band of merry-men including myself and 11 foolish "athletes" where put together to run the Berlin Marathon and in doing so raise money for the Cambodia Trust, an organisation our intrepid leader John Honney works for in the warmth of Phenom Penh.
A quite staggering final amount raised is in the region of £20,000. I can't thank the good people who sponsored my personal efforts in participating in the marathon and helping towards the tremendous amount of money raised.

In a heart warming email from John is details on how some of the money has been spent on organising a painting day for local Orphans in Phenom Penh, Cambodia.

The photo above along with the following note from John pinged into my inbox this week:

Hi All,
A long story, but on Saturday just gone, I organised a painting day, originally for 40 orphans, but by the end of the day we must have had double that splishing and splashing all over the place.
I will do a fuller account in due course, but for now, a few piccies are attached for a little 'ahhh' moment.

Cheers

JH

Berlin Marathon 2008: Mission complete!

It was all going so well up to the 23/24kms mark. I was a couple of minutes ahead of my pace, with an aim of 3:45 finishing time, so as I approached half way I stopped for two minutes to have a drink at 19kms where Anita was waiting. Big mistake.
When I headed off my right hamstring tightened to such an extent I thought I'd been shot in the back of the leg by a German sniper. I battled on despite having to stop for a massage on 25kms and then every 5kms thereafter to stretch, I somehow got over the finish line.
I got home in 4:02:29, slightly disappointed but glad to make it round as the last 15kms were mentally very tough.

I actually completed 27 miles, almost an extra mile, as my trusty watch gizmo tells me, I guess taking into account that you don't run in one straight line but spend much of your time weaving from one side of the road to the other trying to pass groups of people it all adds to your actual distance. When you bear that in mind and the stops for a message and stretch I should be pleased with my time.

Thanks to everyone that once again kindly sponsored me, this time raising £400.00 for The Cambodia Trust. This together with the money raised through The Rickshaw Run in January and the Mongol Rally in the summer has seen my fundraising exceed £5,000.

The Cambodia Trust
Justgiving: Mark Coughlan Berlin Marathon 2008

If it wasn't for John Honney.....

He's a pretty inspirational fella is my mate John. He's someone who should take a pretty hefty share for the inspration over the years and for the desire to travel that even to this day is what drives me.

I first met john back in 2003 over an cheeky ale in the Bush Ranger pub (RIP), what was then a pwopa boozer but now some pouncy Starbucks yuppy type called the "Dog pissing on stinging nettles" or something.
At the time John had just returned from his latest round the world trip, this time to South America and I was a fresh faced, disenchated youngster seeking more out of life, adventure and culture (as if Shepherds Bush didn't offer that).

John has (finally) got himself a website/blog which is a truely facinating read.

Without spoiling what I hope you will all read on his blog, John is currently working for The Cambodia Trust in the Cambodian capital, Phenom Pehn - Living life as it should be, getting the most out of it whatever is thrown at you.

I just hope that when I get *cough* as old as John, that I'm still fulfilling life to the max as he clearly is.

Have a good read - John Honney: Planet Honneywood