On the rocky road to Dublin in aid of Zimbabwean orphans

Tim is running to raise funds for the charity Zimbabwe Orphan Care (ZOC). Zimbabwe Orphan Care (www.zimorphancare.org) was established in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2000 by Alan and Dorothy Graham, originally from Belfast. ZOC is a registered UK and NI charity(XT8500).

In a world where the problems seem overwhelming, ZOC seeks to offer housing, schooling, clothes, food and water, hope and love to some of the 800,000 orphans currently living in poverty in Zimbabwe.

They believe that all the money raised should go to this cause so they have no administration or staff costs outside of Zimbabwe where they offer much needed employment to over 20 people.

2009 saw the opening of Jabulani, their first home in Harare for rejected and abandoned babies, many of whom suffer from AIDS or other diseases which have also killed their mums.

Through this they have been able to offer 'life' to these new born, abandoned orphans, without which they would surely have died.

It will all start at 7.30am on April 25 when Tim will line up to leave from Prehen Boat House. Over the following six days his running will take him via Strabane, Omagh, Armagh, Newry, Dundalk and Drogheda, 128.5 miles down and "only" 40 miles to go.

On Saturday, May 1 Tim will pull on his trainers for the last time and attempt the final leg of this unique and physically demanding endurance challenge.

His itinerary is as follows: Day 1 - Londonderry to Strabane - 13.74 miles; Day 2 - Strabane to Omagh - 19.52 miles; Day 3 - Omagh to Armagh - 35.63 miles; Day 4 - Armagh to Newry - 19.56 miles; Day 5 - Newry to Dundalk - 13.3 miles; Day 6 - Dundalk to Drogheda - 26.71 miles; Day 7 - Drogheda to Dublin - 40.04 miles.

What makes this challenge even more impressive is that Tim is a former homeless drug addict who has overcome a number of personal problems to get him to where he is today.

Tim is a native of the maiden city, married to Jennie and has four children, with number five on the way. He now works with children and young people inspiring them to live their lives to their true and full potential.

As Tim goes through his run to Dublin he will be stopping off to talk to groups of children in schools and groups, he will be visiting a number of residential treatment facilities for people suffering with addictions and will also be sharing his story in a number of churches along the way.

For Tim the run is an opportunity to give hope to people suffering from addition, to share the transformation that has taken place in his life after a real God encounter, to encourage people both young and old to seek all that life has to offer and to raise as much money as he possibility can for Alan and Dorothy Graham at Zimbabwe Orphan Care.

Tim says: "Alan and Dorothy are two of my greatest heroes. They have given up everything they know, left their friends and family behind to go and give the kids they come into contact with the best possible start in life, by providing the most basic of human and fundamental needs. They provide food, water, education, clothing, shelter and love to these kids, so much of what we take for granted."

If you would like to make a donation please log on to www.justgiving.com/mrtimothyshiels