(disclaimer: Karen and other moderators - if this post is inappropriate in anyway, please feel free to delete)

My friend, Hans, will be running his first marathon this December - the Honolulu Marathon to be precise. A die-hard U2 fan and dedicated ONE campaign supporter, he is asking for sponsorship in running this marathon. For every mile that he completes of the marathon, he asks for donations to an organization, Keep A Child Alive . This organization, whose spokesperson is Alicia Keys and has been featured on the Oprah show, is dedicated to supplying anti-retroviral treatment to some of the poorest citizens of the world in Africa. Almost 2 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, many of them women and children, die each year from AIDS. A dollar a day can supply life-saving anti-retroviral treatment for these people.

I know that LCT people are some of the most generous and giving people that I have met. If you find the cause worthy, I ask for your help in making the world a better place and donating to his cause.

His website: Running to Keep a Child Alive

Masaki

Hi Maski,

I will send a bank draft to the "pay by check" next time I go to the back in about 10 days. I don't like giving my credit card info on the internet.

You were there to help me when I was worried about my ears (last year) so this is my way of saying "thank you" to you and helping a good cause at the same time.

I will enclose a note when I mail the check and say it is to support your friend Hans, I got his full name from his website.

Hey Masaki:

Count us in. Thanks!

Cheers! Ray & Penny

I feel dumb, but I don't see a place on that site to sponsor him.

Pam, Masaki's busy with his aquarium and wanted to let you know that you sign into Han's guest book for your pledge. Hope that helps!

Done with the aquarium. As my other half has said, the sponsoring in this case is done by signing into his guestbook and pledging $x/mile that he completes. When he runs the race, he'll post how many miles that he actually completed (hopefully the whole thing!) and you'll post the donation directly to the Keep a Child Alive organization (either by phone, website, etc.) There's no actual official record of the pledge per se - it's more as motivation for him to complete the marathon knowing that x number of people will donate y amount of money if he runs farther. And of course, it's completely on the honor system that people will actually post the donation at the end since he won't know from Keep a Child Alive how much was donated because of his run.

Hope that helps!

For those that have already agreed to donate, thank you! (Ray/Penny, Mrs. Moose - thanks!!)

Masaki

Masaki....I'm in too - I'm sure he'll do it - I've already made the donation - at the end of the race I'll send congratulations too!

Please give him my best wishes - I know what endurance events are like - at the end, sometimes you're using that motivation, it's the only fuel left!!!!

Thanks Margo! I'll pass your message along!

Masaki

Thanks to all of you, Hans completed the marathon yesterday.

This is his post on the U2 board:
"Hi there! I finished the marathon!!!!!! :) :)

My finishing time was 4 hours and 44 minutes. It went very well for the first 20 miles (time 2:45). Then I injured my right knee when I made a mis step at a drinking station, and had to walk the remaining 6 miles!

It was an awesome experience! Thanks for all your support, and the donations to Keep A Child Alive :)

Greetings from Waikiki,

Hans"

Thanks again to everyone for their donations!

Masaki

Whoohoo for Hans!! What determination, I'm awed. thanks for sharing this with us Masaki.

Congratulations Hans! Sorry you injured your knee but you still managed to finish. Well done!

Enjoy the pleasure of doing something amazing for yourself AND someone else. You're a hero.