Sponsor Trevor's Marathon & support assisted dying

Aim

On 21st April I'm running the London Marathon and have chosen to raise funds for the assisted dying campaign group My Death, My Decision

Let's give incurably suffering and terminally ill people dignity and autonomy

If, like me, you believe a compassionate assisted dying law for this country is long overdue, please do make a donation to My Death, My Decision, the organisation I chair. We can use it towards running a stand at the Labour Conference later in the year and to ensure we can maintain our fantastic team (all of MDMD's board are volunteers).

It’s time we allowed terminally ill or incurably and unbearably suffering people to ask for help to end their life - if they so choose. Instead of exporting compassion to Switzerland, we need to bring dignity and autonomy home. 

It seems like the politicians are listening at last, thanks to the efforts of people like Dame Esther Rantzen and the late Dame Diana Rigg - as well as campaigners like MDMD - so this could be a pivotal year.

Why do I support a law? 

In the course of my work as a humanist celebrant and for My Death, My Decision I have met many suffering people hoping the law will change, including the late, brave campaigner Paul Lamb (pictured with his beloved Freddie). Paul had a terrible accident that paralysed him more or less completely from the neck down. He wanted to know that when his suffering became too great for him, he would have the comfort of knowing that he could ask for help to end his life, at a time and where he chose. Sadly, he died in 2021 from complications, before he could see his vision realised. They played 'Heroes' as the entry music at Paul's funeral.

Paul's powerful words carry great force today:

"I cannot understand, in a civilised society like ours, why I should be forced to suffer when millions of people around the world already have the choice I asked for. I have never wanted anyone to pity me. All I have ever wanted is for my choice to be respected and given equal validity under the law, like everyone else’s."

About My Death, My Decision

You can learn more about My Death, My Decision at mydeath-mydecision.org.uk It is largely volunteer-led with excellent part-time professional help, to the extent funds permit.

Just a practical matter: as a political campaign organisation MDMD is not a charity, but it is a not for profit company. That means all funds raised are ploughed into the campaign.

Just in case...

I am hoping to remain physically able to run on the day, but at sixty-seven the scope for the unexpected is never far away…so keep everything crossed!

This project successfully funded on 30th April 2024