Lynne Featherstone

Local Liberal Democrat councillor Matt Davies is hoping to make it around the London Marathon course for a third time next weekend, this time raising sponsorship for Refuge.

Cllr Davies completed the London Marathon for the first time in 2003, fundraising for the Terrence Higgins Trust. In 2006 he did it again, this time for Amnesty International. This year he is being sponsored by friends, family, local residents and council colleagues (of both parties) to raise money for Refuge.

Cllr Davies (Liberal Democrat, Fortis Green) is running the marathon to help raise the profile of the work that Refuge do in supporting victims of domestic violence - as well as raising money for the charity.

Refuge is a national charity for women and children who experience domestic violence, providing emergency accommodation and emotional and practical support. Since opening the world's first women's safe house in London in 1971, Refuge has grown to become the UK's largest organisation of its kind, helping and supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence and acting as a national 'lifeline' for up to 80,000 victims of domestic abuse every year.

So far Cllr Davies has raised over £1,800 and is hoping to top the £2,200 he raised last time. His fundraising has also been helped by the support of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in donating signed merchandise to auction.

Cllr Davies comments:

"I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far - including Spurs, who donated a signed pennant for me to auction. There is still time to sponsor me, so please dig deep.

"I have done the marathon twice before and survived - but just because I have an idea of what to expect from the 26.2 miles that doesn't mean I think it will all be plain sailing by any stretch of the imagination. For one thing, I'm three years older and heavier than I was last time.

"But while I know there will be tough times as I make my way around the course, I know that I will be raising money for an excellent cause. That will be enough to keep me going, however slowly!"

Matt Davies can be sponsored at www.justgiving.com/matt4refuge