Challenge 300

[Basil is a Gooner]

Dear all,

You may remember over the last couple of years Gooner Paul Smith (Master Gooner on the forum) has been raising vast amounts of money for Arsenal's chosen charities by travelling first 100, then 200, and now 300 (well 325) miles in his wheelchair. I hope you can spare a minute to read about his new challenge and support him in any way you are able.

Please also like his facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php?type=1 ... allenge300

and support his Just Giving page on http://www.justgiving.com/Challenge300

This is all about Paul's challenge:

One man, one wheelchair, 300 miles... In April 2013 Paul Smith will take on his biggest challenge yet for Save the Children UK, self-propelling his wheelchair, approx 325 miles from Plymouth, Devon to Emirates Stadium, London over 5 days!

Since becoming severely disabled in 1991 as the result of a motor vehicle accident, Paul has had to re-evaluate his life. At that time, as a Leading Seaman Specialist in the Royal Navy, he was incredibly fit and led an active, full and privileged life, serving in both the Falklands and the first Gulf campaign, as well as competing in the Royal Naval Field Gun Crew.

Paul says "The road to recovery remains long and difficult. Whilst I am mainly confined to a wheelchair and still suffer significant pain as a result of permanent brain damage and numerous physical disabilities. I find it helps greatly to concentrate a large proportion of my time in helping others, who I feel are less fortunate than myself.

As such, over the past 5 years, I have helped raise in excess of £1,800,000 for various charities including local disabled children, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Kiya Survivors in Peru, Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital Charity, and Centrepoint Youth Homelessness and most recently when I raised £28,000 for Save the Children UK.

Despite my own difficulties, I have always had the love and support of family and friends. I have always had a roof over my head and food to eat and water to drink, famine is something I have never had to consider. As such, my next challenge will again benefit Save the Children, the UK charity with a mission to end child deaths here in the UK and around the world.

In April 2013 and hopefully with your help, I will commence my biggest challenge yet when I will self-propel my wheelchair, approximately 325 miles from Plymouth in Devon, to London. The challenge will take five days and see me complete the equivalent of almost 12 marathons, 65 miles a day."

Thanks!

[DB10GOONER]

Hi Bas,

a great cause and a great bloke. We'll leave this up here for a while to increase coverage.

Best of luck to Paul. A top Gooner.

[QuartzGooner]

Hope he got to carry the Olympic torch.

[Basil is a Gooner]

Hi Bas,

a great cause and a great bloke. We'll leave this up here for a while to increase coverage.

Best of luck to Paul. A top Gooner.

Thanks DB10. Could you make it a sticky please?

[DB10GOONER]

Hi Bas,

a great cause and a great bloke. We'll leave this up here for a while to increase coverage.

Best of luck to Paul. A top Gooner.

Thanks DB10. Could you make it a sticky please?

Oh, ok - you sweet talked me!

[Basil is a Gooner]

Hope he got to carry the Olympic torch.

Sadly not although would have been a perfect choice.

We nominated Paul but unfortunately the first phase of the selection process was a random choice so our application didnt even get read, as they only read the ones that were random shortlisted!

[Basil is a Gooner]

Hi Bas,

a great cause and a great bloke. We'll leave this up here for a while to increase coverage.

Best of luck to Paul. A top Gooner.

Thanks DB10. Could you make it a sticky please?

Oh, ok - you sweet talked me!

Thanks! (you're my favourite)

[Rocky Number Seven]

Good luck once again Paul.

Just a suggestion, but over the past couple of years when you have been in the concourses with your bucket collecting some of my friends have been unaware of what it is you have done/doing or are raising for (Even though I know you advertise it when there)? I know this may take money out of your budget or away from the chosen charity but is there anyway of perhaps informing supporters of your efforts in a way that they can take away if they choose to and donate after the match day?

I wonder if more supporters were made aware of your efforts at a point when they perhaps had access to a computer (and weren't as intoxicated) then they may be able to donate more than they perhaps would on a matchday? Just a suggestion and once again I will be donating online and chucking in any lefover beer money on matchdays when I see you around Block 7/8.

All the Best - RN7

[Master Gooner]

Thank you for your support again, we really do appreciate it. We think the idea of having some leaflets is a good one and we will see if we can get someone to sponsor the cost. However, it may well be that this year Arsenal will not allow us to collect, which has caused a lot of upset at the moment. We will have to wait and see if they will allow collecting to go ahead again, if not it will be online doantions only and hopefully leaflets will help bring in plenty of support for the kids, both in this country and abroad. Yours and everyone elses support WILL make a BIG difference!!!

Best Wishes

Jane and Paul

[Dan_85]

it may well be that this year Arsenal will not allow us to collect

Are they serious?! What reasons have they given? I guess I shouldn't be by now, but I remains constantly amazed by the new lows to which our club continue to sink

Best of luck with the challenge, I will sling some money your way

[Master Gooner]

Thanks Dan_85 your support is also appreciated. It is not set in concrete just yet, we have to speak to them but it is looking increasingly like we may not collect this season because they want to do it themsleves. We will keep you posted on a letter that has been sent to one of the directors, fingers crossed. We have to say that it applies to any other fundraiser as well.

Jane and Paul

[QuartzGooner]

I wonder if more supporters were made aware of your efforts at a point when they perhaps had access to a computer (and weren't as intoxicated) then they may be able to donate more than they perhaps would on a matchday? Just a suggestion and once again I will be donating online and chucking in any lefover beer money on matchdays when I see you around Block 7/8.

I get emails about the campaign.
Cannot remember signing up to get them but somehow they found me!

The address they come from is [email protected]

If Basil can verify that is still in use for the new campaign.

[Master Gooner]

yes we are [email protected]

Hope they aren't too intrusive!

Jane and Paul

[flash gunner]

Best of luck Paul

[Master Gooner]

Thank you Flash Gooner and thank you to all of you who are going to our facbook page and clicking on 'LIKE', it helps us get more coverage.

We'd also like to thank those of you who have gone to our just giving page and made a generous donation, we are now on our way to the £50,000 we hope to raise before next April! a reminder of the pages http://www.facebook.com/challenge300 and http://www.justgiving.com/challenge300

Best Wishes

Jane and Paul