10 MILES FOR JOE

USING OUR MUSCLES TO SAVE THEIRS

MAY 24th 2008 - TARO LEISURE CENTRE, PETERSFIELD, HAMPSHIRE  

WOO HOOO. Mission Complete!

Stewart:

Ten miles, 640 lengths, 6 bottles of rehydrate and hi carb mixes oh and one flapjack later and I’ve done it!!! Had to jump out twice to answer quick calls of nature and weigh myself.

Joe started the event off, originally going to do 1 length but did 4 or 5 in the end and Annette and family members worked their socks off selling cakes and more raffle tickets near the entrance of the leisure centre.

With a team of ‘length counters’ updating the Cricket-type score board it was easy for me to keep an eye on progress. Had a slight panicky moment when they decided to stop updating it every couple of lengths and leave it 20 minutes between updating it again. Seeing the tally jump up by 40-odd lengths was good to see though.

About three hours in I started to get cramp in my foot and calf muscles, why there I’ll never know but it was very uncomfortable. Four hours in and my shoulders started to burn. Five hours in and the stubble on my chin had grown back a little and started to rub on my shoulders!

With 10 lengths to go I became quite emotional and struggled to hold it together. As I finished length 639 I met with Joe so we could both swim the last length together - simply lovely! Not sure how but I managed the distance in 5 hours 45 minutes.

A massive thanks to everyone for your support and donations. We still have money coming in and I’ll post the total as soon as I can. That said we have gone over the £10,000 mark so well done everyone!

We would like to thank everyone who had a hand in making the event a success.

Grandma Di: Baker, counceller - what didnt you bring to this event! Thank you so much for your continued support. You have been there through all the bad times and the good. A true friend.

THE TARO: We physically couldnt have done it with out your help! Thank you to Ashli Masson and Richard Neale for the free pass so Stewart could train and the use of the lane on the day! Your staff from the front desk, to duty managers, to lifeguards were 100% supportive and nothing was too much trouble. A real credit to the centre!

Victoria and The 3 generations Of Driscoll's. You did brilliantly with your collective 10 miles swim. Victoria swam 6 of those miles and all she wanted half way through was " a cuppa tea!" Sophie, thank you so much for entertaining Joe in the training pool afterwards!

Viv, Stacey and Kirsty: Bake Team extraordinaire! We have never seen so many cakes come out of one hamper before, you worked like troupers not only with the cakes but raising awareness, raffle ticket selling and donation collecting! Top stuff! Can'tsay thankyou enough!

Kelly: WOW a personal best with 3 miles! You did good girl! Thank you for everything! Good luck in the Great south run with your hubby later on this year also in aid of Action Duchenne.

Leeanne and Kristian: Bake team, raffle ticket sellers and chief folders. General go-fers and runners, lane counters and the bestest Auntie and Uncle in the world!

Marilyn: Absolutely brilliant cakes - naturally! Thank you so much for your support on the day! The cakes went down a treat. People are still talking about your fruit cake and brownies ;-)!

Ryan: Super pro counter! You did a grand job of counting the lengths for Stew. Hope you didnt melt too much!

Russ: Another super counter. You must be so proud of your girls -  we are! Thank you for all your help and sorry you had to miss the Hatton fight! ;-)

Diane Fairclough, Angie Hinkely, Kelly Mitchell and mum Val, Amy Stanton, Shelley Latham, Abby Walsh and Debbie Essex: You lot should all be in PR given the amount of raffle tickets you shifted! An amazing job which certainly boosted the over all figures!

We would also like to thank the many shops in Petersfield who donated wonderful gifts to the raffle but especially to Martin and his Staff at TESCO Petersfield who donated the 32" LCD TV. It was so very generous of you. Lesley from Stepping Stones Playgroup in Sheet won the star prize and is over the moon. (incedentally Joe attended Stepping stones and spent a very happy 2 years there with Lesley).

And last but by no means least a HUGE thank you to EVERYONE who donated via this webpage, at the school fete and who sent cheques through. You really have made a huge difference to kids like Joe. We are so grateful to each and everyone of you!

So what now.....

Well we’ve set the wheels in motion for a bigger, harder and almost impossible challenge! Early October 2008 Stewart and another load of crazy people from across the UK are going to attempt…One mile, on the hour, every hour, for 24 hours *gulp*.....

.....The 2Swim4Life campaign is born!

Keep an eye out for the fundraising page which will be created soon!

This page however, is open until October this year so its not too late to donate.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. Action Duchenne will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

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