No corporate sponsor!!!

What's up with that? Aggrrhh....

Yes it is the hard truth, when you are raising fund for your own purpose, unless I want to go through setting up my own trust for this. Looking at how things work here, I won't have my hope too high.

This is what Vicky has wrote to me today.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Vicky Boughton
Date: 09-May-2007 17:40
Subject: RE: Cheque for Travellers & Re: Placements in Malaysia with Travellers &
To: Ulu Gange
Cc: Jenny Ashworth

Hi Ulu Gange,

Thanks for your email. We have placements available in March or May or July in 2009 so you can certainly swap to one of these if you would like to – please let me know which time suits you best and I’ll make the arrangements here (there will be a £15 administration fee).

With regards to fundraising – we are not a charity and so you won’t be able to get corporate sponsorship in that way unless you are able to somehow set up a trust fund yourself, although I am not sure how/whether that would work. I’m afraid that you cannot direct the money through Sepilok appeal as they are not affiliated with us in that way. Corporate donations unfortunately have these restrictions so the best thing to do would perhaps try to raise funds through alternative means (sponsored events with friends and family etc).

Best of luck and sorry I can’t be of more help.

With kind regards

Vicky


Vicky Boughton - Project Co-ordinator
Travellers Worldwide - voluntary placements overseas
7 Mulberry Close, Ferring, West Sussex, BN12 5HY
Tel: +44 (0)1903 502595
Fax: +44 (0)1903 500364
Email: vicky@travellersworldwide.com
Website: www.travellersworldwide.com

Travellers are very proud to introduce their new company, TEFL Time! Get qualified to teach English as a Foreign Language. TEFL Time runs professional UK based weekend courses - see www.tefltime.com for details.

Travellers is a founder member of the Year Out Group

Jazz nite at Melaka

L is full force in my fund-raising. I cant be more grateful for it. I think I just have too much in my hand now to think of what to do.

L and a couple of frens came out with the idea to do a jazz night at Melaka, this Malaysian restaurant. Kalam was right about Lau. He is just fantastic in organizing stuff!!

Ok, he has talked to the restaurant owner and would/have booked for June 10 for an evening just for my fund raising.

I would have to come out with the theme for the night and organized with his musicians friends to work out the share of proceeds and arrangement for the evening.

Hopefully we will get to meet this weekend to get this sorted out. It seems he even set me a deadline: May 21.

This guy is ON man!!

Run - Fund Raising

Last week L, K, I and I met up at Sushi Hirobo at Holborn, just like 10 min walk from my work place. Finally I get to sit down with L and talked about the fund-raising, though my system was pretty much adulterated with alcohol when we finally have dinner.

After serious consideration of the finance to fly to New York and run (now the only packages that is available with Sport Tours International is the £1000 odd that includes running pack, flight and hotel), it is far more effective to be raise the fund for the volunteer than volunteer and NY marathon (£4k for the two of us to go NY).

Well L talked me into some senses. We would do Cardiff Half marathon and next year London marathon. Berlin marathon might be too close, well at least to me. L just did his full this April in London Flora.

More programs coming up. Stay tuned!

Serendipity

I was out with a bunch of friends whom almost all I met for the first time. Just so happening one of them, L was running for tomorrow Flora London marathon. And I related to him now I was planning to run the New York end of the year and it is also an effort to raise fund for the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary. He was totally gig for it!! He's from Sandakan that's why! That's as close as home can be for him. Guess he was amazing for the fact I am affliated with something so close to home.

But I did express my sceptism about raising the entire amount: volunteering fees and the trip to New York. He quickly replied, I can always include the cost of the trip to the amount needed to be raised. He doesn't mind doing the New York marathon with me and raise the fund needed!! He has all the corporate network that are willing to throw in $$! I was OVERJOYED. I just announced to everyone (mind me I just met them for like a couple of hours) L is my next BEST Friend. It is like a dream come true! Run in New York with a buddy and raise enough fund for Sepilok!!

Hahaha... that mean I won't really have to set up booth at Covent Garden, holding a banner saying 'Save the Orang Utan!' and wait hopefully for people to donate. Come to think about it, it might just be fun ya!

I will keep up with the progress on this. Let's hope that he is still keen on it. Do come back and find out ya!

Choice of marathon

Ok I am not changing my date for Sepilok, coz it costs me £50 to change dates. Hell no!!

And I am gonnna run in one of the European marathon to raise fund. No point sequeeze my ass off to go to NYC to run and be a pauper for the next two years!! Europe is a whole lot cheaper to travel (if I book early, I can travel for like £0.50!! Can you believe that??) Anyway, my end point is to raise fund right?

With this change in plan, I will have more time to train and raise fund.

More update on the running in a few weeks time. I am settling well with work schedule and personal life, but need to get into a routine now. I should be able to start my mileage build-up training again soon.

Lagging on the training!

I am trying to get back on track again. I am lagging behind on the training, as work and social life is piling up.

I still have the spirit and drive to do it, i just need more motivation.

Maybe I should seriously look into finding a running partner. I used to have Berlinda and after a while, I could run on my own. Maybe to get me back, I'll look for a partner.

No Luck with Rainforest Foundation too!

I wrote to Nick Tuchband this afternoon and an hour later, he rang me up! That was very prompt of him. Unfortunately, the rules of the NY marathon has changed this year, even small charities like Nick's have to pay a premium to have running packs too! This year all the race packs for NY marathon is held by this company Sports Tours, affiliation or subsidiary of Real Buzz.

I knew about this route, but was hoping for something else. Guess if I would like to run, I would have to commit to this.

Quoting Nick Tuchband :

Hi Ulugange,

Please find details of Sports Tours International. They have a variety of marathons and then you can raise money directly for your preferred cause. 0870 350 1106

I will add your name to our database for future events.

Kind regards
Nick

PS we have a 10K on 16 September so feel free to come along and run with us on that for fun

Nick Tuchband - Events & Marketing Manager
_________________________
The Rainforest Foundation
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7485 0193
__________________________



From: Ulugange [mailto:xxx@ucl.ac.uk]
Sent: 27 March 2007 15:22
To: Nick Tuchband
Subject: running in New York maraton 2007



Hey Nick

I was wondering if there is still any available place to run for your charity organization.

I have a unique case there. Initially I was hoping to run for this volunteering program: Sepilok Orang Utan Conservatory Program (Sept 2008) in New York Marathon 2007. It is my 2007 personal resolution to run and complete a marathon. Unfortuntely, it proved to be tough due to the entry requirement to the race. So far I have yet to find any possible avenue of getting on the race, unless I pay for my own race pack and travel (£900). I thought maybe these fund (which I am going to raise anyway) can be rasied for better use for organizations like yours (I know it would be more than £900), but with the hopeful condition that you allow the remaining fund raised out of the mininum fund would go to my volunteering fund (which 78%-80% of the £2,800 is for the conservation of orphan Orang Utan in Sabah, remaining 20% is for my food and logging in the sanctuary).

I hope that you and your organization would be able to explore this option with me. I would be more than happy to pay you a visit or have a chat on the phone to further discuss how we can go about this. It is my sincere wish that as little as a young earnest person like me can do, I hope that it would still somewhat contribute to the betterment of the rainforest conservation, in particular the orang utan rehabilitation.

Just a quick question, how much is the mininum fund that I need to raise for Rainforest Foundation for the participantion to be paid for?

Certainly hope to hear from you soon,
Ulugange

---------------------------
Ulugange
MPhil/PhD Student
Institute of Neurology
University College London
Queen Square
London WC1N 3BG

-----------------------------

Reply for Change of Date for Placement

So I got the reply from Travellers.com about the change. Unfortuately, they have a £15 charge to any date alteration. (Damn it! I should have thought of it earlier!)

The dates they have for around the period I want to go in 2009 are (these dates haven’t been confirmed yet and may change slightly):

16th January 2009 - 8th March 2009

20th March 2009- 17th May 2009

I need to let them know asap. I have not decided yet, so I'll only reply on next Monday.

MBU Week 5 :(

I have not been training at all for this MBU Week 5. I'll get back to it tomorrw.

By MBU Week 6, I need to clock 18 miles per week. It is done over the spread of 5 days now, instead of 4 days, starting this Sun.

Sun 6 miles
Tues 3 miles
Wed 3 miles
Thurs 3 miles
Sat 3 miles

Man I can't slack anymore. My new house is just taking a lot of my time, I need to getting it sorted soon so that I can get back on track again.

Change of placement date to early 2009

I have just wrote to Vicky from Travellers.co.uk to change my placement date with Sepilok.

I figured I would like to get an internship at any biotech companies, or consultancies or even banks (someone was urging me to try that as well!) during summer next year. So being away from June to August and then September to November would be too strain on the project. I thought I would spread then out.

Let's see what she say! Wish me luck!

MBU Week 4: Wed

I walked around Reading: Bath Road - Brunwick Road- Western Elms - Oxford Road - Reading Central - Chain St - (back on) Castle Hill/Bath Road.

Last night was just along bath road and town centre. I didn't get to go to Napier Road. So, I thought I would walk the route I mentioned above to compensate for it.

I think I am doing alright. Weather was sunny, rainy & wet and then cold cloudy and then sunny again.

I sweated like a babe ... the pig! ;-)

Deposit for Sepilok Volunteer

I have just paid for £90 (and then end of next month another £100) as the deposit for Sepilok Volunteering Program.

So now I am assured a place for the September 2008 program.

I am really looking forward to it, but now I need to decide which marathon do I wan to run for to raise the fund. I really want to go to New York Marathon, it is just a buzz thinking of going there. It would so exciting, my 1st marathon in New York. But I need to be sensible.

I'll try for another month to see if I can do it with NY marathon. If it is not possible, I would just need to do it in London next April.

Wish me luck! Hmm ... Where do these charity people network? I should try to bump into them.

MBU Week 4: Tues

Distance: 3 miles
Temperature: 8C
Weather: Wet

Forecast: I should be running to today, but I need to go to TESCO to get some home basic. I'll walk to build up mileage. It is located at Napier Road,

Still no internet at home.

MBU Week 4: Sun - Moving House

No I didn't run to Reading from Abingdon. I was tied up with moving, so I had to forgo the training. Plus I don't have internet to blog. New place new adjustments.

MBU Week 3: Sat

Distance: 4 miles
Temperature: 12C
Weather: cloudy with occasionally ray of sun. A nice day

I was at home, so just did a quick run around Abingdon. I ran around 12 Acre Drive to the cross of Oxford Road with Radley Road and then on 12 Acre Drive to go back home.

Time: 55 mins. Guess I am slacking on the timing.

MBU Week 3: Thrus

Distance: 3 miles odd
Temperature: 10C
Weather: Light shower in the late evening, so the road is kinda wet. But otherwise nice day to run.

Yesterday, I would in London for a networking event til late, so I thought I would just bring my running gear to London.

I ran along St. John's Wood Road, leading to Regent Park. The route continued on the Outer circle of the Regent Park till Barker St tube station and back to St. John's Wood Road. Passed London Business School and it is beautiful. The lightning at night just make it so majestic! It is the exact pic on the main page of their website.

It was a light run, but I had fun exploring, sure is a good way to get myself familiar with this place, since I would be coming quite often. I still remember few weeks ago, when I was here for an interview. I should do this for other part of London.

Just emailed another friend to see if she is interested in running next wed/Thurs.

Time: 32mins

Another one: Run for Free* with 2:09 Events

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/ms_events/running/ny_marathon.html

----on the website-----
Run for FREE*
Run New York for FREE if you book before May 1st*

We have teamed up with 209 Events, the official travel partners of the ING New York Marathon, ro provide you with a full marathon experience. They will organise your flights, accommodation and race entry fee for you, as well as throwing in a few extras. Simply visit their website at 209 events to select and book your package, quoting the MS Society as your charity.

There is no minimum sponsorship requirement for these places however we do offer some great refund packages to help you run for FREE!*

If you raise £1500 in sponsorship we will refund your flights and race entry fee up to £550.
If you raise £2000 in sponsorship we will also refund your flights, race entry fee and accommodation up to £800.
We do also have "entry-only" places in this race. Please click on the next tab for more information on these places.

*subject to terms and conditions Entry only places

The MS Society is lucky enough to have a number of "place only" entries in the 2007 New York Marathon. If you would like one of these places you will have to arrange your own flights and accommodation.

We ask for a minimum of £1500 in sponsorship for one of these places and they will be allocated on a first come first served basis. To apply please download our New York 2007 application form (79 kb) and send it back to us as soon as possible with a cheque for £100 (made payable to the "MS Society") to cover your deposit (this will be refunded once the minimum sponsorship has been reached).

Should you be able to raise over £2000 we will also refund £350 to go towards the cost of your trip.


Package


Fundraising pack with sponsorship and comprehensive tips & advice
Professional running vest
Regular newsletters packed with training information
Cheering points in New York
Support from the MS Running Team
Pre- and post-team get togethers in New York

Souvenir Newsletter


Please click on the link to view the 2007 souvenir newsletter.

If you would like a paper copy please email newyork@mssociety.org.uk and we will send one out to you.

NYM06 souvenir newsletter (586 kb)



Event Contact
Running Team
MS Society
372 Edgware Road
Cricklewood
London
NW2 6ND
Tel.0870 241 3565
Fax.0208 438 0877
newyork@mssociety.org.uk

Maybe through Rainforest Foundation ...

Today I found a website that support runners to New York Marathon.

http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/s-International%20Marathons%202007
---on the webpage----
International Marathons 2007

With our travel partners, The Rainforest Foundation is able to offer you the chance to run a Marathon in almost any major city across the World. A small sample of courses is on offer on the left but if there is a marathon that you want to enter and raise money for The Rainforest Foundation then drop us a line.

We’ll pay for your flight, accommodation and entry if you raise our minimum sponsorship. We’ll also offer you any training or nutritional advice you might need along with fundraising tips so that you can hit your fundraising total.

The New York Marathon has for some years been our most popular so if you see that times or dates aren’t confirmed on this or any others, still get in contact so we can look to reserve you your place.

Berlin
Boston
New York
Rome
Tokyo
Please contact Nick Tuchband on 020 7485 0193 for further information or to see what other International Marathons are available

They are located in Central London, I'll go visit them this week. Meeting is much impressionistic than just talking on the phone. Less see if I can do it this way.

MBU Week 2: Sat & Sun

Distance: 4 miles & 5 miles
Temperature: 8C
Weather: Sunny, so it actually feels a lot better today

I was in London this weekend for Chinese New Year. I had a friend from Singapore that was here and I have a get-together at Pimlico.

I walked about ~4 miles for each day:
Saturday - shopping with Chris (4 hours), we walked from High St Kensington, pass through Hyde Park, to Bayswater. We walked all along Bayswater for the 3 hrs and then headed back the same route to High St. Ken. In the evening, I got losed looking for my friend place at Madison Close and headed the opposite direction towards the Embankment. That took me a good 20min away from the tube station and 20min to get back to the tube station to start all over again. Finally it was only 10 mins walk (in the right direction to his place). By then I was already an hour late! Next, die die must buy London A-Z!!! But hey I got to build up my mileage!

Sunday - High St Ken for 30 mins, and Covent Garden's Neal Street to Leicester Sq where Chinatown is. That's about 2 hrs of slow walk (because my shoes was hurting me!) and congested due to Chinese New Year!

I think I did my fair bit. I should be back on my running shoes this coming week. No more boots and high heels. My back is really getting a tow ...

MBU Week 2: Thurs - I am sick today!

Distance: 4 miles
Temperature: 10C
Weather: Windy and wet.


I went for my physio therapy again. After 2-week ago treatment, I still have a slight pain... or more like an aching feel at my tail bone. So he did his usual bends, pulls, pressure point tappings, twists on my topless body (with brassiere!)

But I was already feeling a little tired for the last few days, and have not been eating right lately, skipping too many meals. Maybe I also exerted myself a little too much.

I guess with such low immune system, the inflammation occurred during the physio took whatever I have left in me.

I just popped two tablets of paracetamol and I am just gonna called it a nite.