Never Give Up!

Regular readers of this blog will remember the name Mark MacAlpine, who didn’t hesitate to ask his friends to sponsor him when he ran a half marathon to raise funds for our Children’s Homes.  Like every good marathon athlete, it seems that Mark never gives up!  He did the same thing again this year – and sent not one, but two letters to his friends. But he’s not worried about being too pushy, because he’s convinced of the need to help our helpless children.

Last year you sponsored me in the Standard Chartered Half-Marathon and we raised about HK$80,000.  So far the operations on a little guy called Xiao Yang have come to about HK$60,000.  He had spina bifida, hydrocephalus, club feet and urinary tract damage due to the spina bifida.  Pretty bad start in life.  In brief, operations to cure the spina bifida and hydrocephalus (fluid in the brain which swells the skull hugely if not drained) have been largely successful.  He’s had two operations for the club foot and now he’s walking reasonably well.  Soon, perhaps, he’ll be walking and running normally.  He’s already having a go at football. Thanks!

Read about Mark's prior runsThe year before last the HK$70,000 raised saved the life of a 15-year-old girl called Douge by paying for her to come to HK and have a risky operation on the brain tumour which otherwise gave her 3 months to live.  A lot of prayer no doubt helped the surgeon.  You may have seen it reported in the newspapers.

Now I am asking you to pledge your support again.   The race is on Sunday 20th February starting at the excruciating time of 5.45 am.  The second half of the 21-km race is going to be tough, but if there’s a lot of cash riding on it I’ll have good reason to complete!  The money goes to Christian Action who run an orphanage in Xining and Yushu (where the earthquake happened in April last year) in Qinghai Province. I've also included the story of a boy called Ji Shan - if only for his smile after the right leg operation.

For now, just send a return e-mail saying how much you’ll pledge (and I’ll come asking for the cheque after the race!).  It’ll be a great start to the Year of the Rabbit.

Best wishes for the Year of the Rabbit - kung hei faat choi,
 Mark MacAlpine

Mark sent his friends a follow up email to say HK$55,000 had come in with just one week to go. Now there are only FOUR DAYS to go – how about encouraging Mark by raising the donations to the same – or more – than last year’s figure of HK$80,000?  I’m proud of my son Danial for wanting to give HK$300 from his lai see money for this great cause!

Thanks in anticipation of your generosity!