school medical funds

Dear friends and colleagues, please use this page to sponsor, or pledge to sponsor, me to run 5 marathons this spring to raise money for both my medical school fees and my local children's hospital.

I am proud to say I have a guaranteed place at medical school for September 2012 after passing a foundation year in the science subjects with distinction. I am confident I can support myself (and Noah!) for the 5 years ahead but what I don't have is the money to pay for my fees, which have just increased to £9000 a year for 4 years (5th year of training is paid for by the NHS).

While £36000 seems a lot, it breaks down to just £50 per taught day. Or £10 per lecture. If you want to sponsor me for a particular day let me know and I will write to you on that day and tell you what I learnt ( you have a choice from 24/9/2012 to 30/6/2017!)

As a graduate I have no access to state provided tuition fee loans, and in the UK there are virtually no private sector funding providers for education fees. I have no family money to rely on, inheritances or any other form of unearned income. However, I REFUSE to let money be the reason I can't become a doctor. So I am asking for YOUR help...

I know it is unorthodox to look to you, as personal and professional contacts for support, and that individually you may think this rather futile. But COLLECTIVELY you are the most valuable resource I have on this quest. I understand you may have your doubts about donating to a personal cause rather than a charity and so it was to inspire your confidence I decided to run 5 MARATHONS in 5 COUNTRIES over 100 days* (see bottom for dates). These races, symbolic of the 5 years of medical school I hope to undertake, will be an enormous challenge to me, requiring strength and determination, discipline, stamina and patience - all things I am going to need if I am to successfully complete my medical training.

If you would prefer to pledge rather than donate you could use the comments section of the page to say how much you would like to sponsor me, either per mile or per marathon or for completing all five races in their entirety.

I will DONATE 20% of everything I raise in sponsorship to the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital - where I was diagnosed and treated for my Crohn's disease at the age of 12 and throughout my teens. It seems fitting, considering the care and treatment I received there gave me my passion for medicine, that they should benefit in some way too from my efforts.

If you have any questions please give me a shout - otherwise thank you firstly for reading this far (!) and, secondly, in anticipation of your support, it really does mean a lot.

Leila x

*Thought it was over 99 days, but then realised there are 29 days in February this year thanks to the leap year!

SEVILLE MARATHON, Spain - Sunday 19th February 2012
***Completed!! 5 hours 14 minutes***

ROME MARATHON, Italy - Sunday 18th March 2012
***Completed!! 5 hours 32 minutes***

BRIGHTON MARATHON, England - Sunday 15th April 2012
***Completed!! 5 hours 54 minutes***

BELFAST MARATHON, Northern Ireland - Monday 7th May 2012
*** Withdrawn from due to knee injury ***

EDINBURGH MARATHON, Scotland - Sunday 27th May 2012
***Completed!! 5 hours 42 minutes***

KENT ROADRUNNER, Dartford, England - Monday 4th June 2012

***Completed!! 5 hours 46 minutes***