Run the Race with perseverance St George’s Crypt 2012 LENT APPEAL

St George’s Crypt, Leeds launches its 2012 Lent Appeal this week with the Olympics very much in mind.

The Crypt is appealing to churches, community groups, local businesses and its loyal band of supporters to remember the New Testament saying “Run the Race with Perseverance”.

In a specially commissioned film broadcast from today on the St George’s Crypt’s YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/stgeorgescryptleeds), Crypt Operations Manager Matthew Nice is shown pounding the streets of Leeds around the Crypt.

“I’m a keen runner and you certainly need a good deal of perseverance to run in all weathers and particularly when you don’t really feel like it,” Matthew said today.

He compares running one of the country’s best known homelessness charities with running a race: “The recent cold snap has once again strained our resources and we need your support,”  he says in the film before adding: “This Lent appeal helps us to boost our resources. With your support we can ‘Run the Race’ better.”

Ash Wednesday (22 February) this week marks the official start of Lent after Shrove Tuesday and the Lent season continues until Easter Day (8 April). Lent, in the Christian calendar, marks the time spent by Jesus in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights.

In the film Matthew says that the Olympic Year will remind everyone of the perseverance and dedication of athletes from all over the world.

And he urges the people of West Yorkshire to give generously to continue to help the homeless in the region.