12 July 2013

I entered the ballot for this year's London Marathon - now that I have a time to beat - but didn't get a place. Several months later I received an e-mail asking if I'd like to enter the ballot for the London 100, which is a 100 mile bike ride using the Olympic route, in London and Surrey. So, I entered, thinking 'that'll never happen' and you can guess the rest!!

I got on my bike (pretty much for the first time since I was 15) on 16 May 2013 and on 4 August 2013 will try and cycle 100 miles in less than 9 hours!! I must say a huge 'Thank You' to the ladies that lead the Breeze rides locally, you are all fabulous and have really helped me, and also thanks to Jane for moral support!

Pretty please, I ask again for you to dig deep and sponsor me. I really appreciate any donations, thank you x

 

25 April 2012

YIPPEE! I did it! 6.48.34 (but I make it under 6 and a half hours if you take off the loo queue!).

Medal achieved (tick), didn't come last (tick) and raising funds for a great charity (tick - but not over yet!)

Sincerely, 'Thank You' TB Alert - that was the most fabulous (and painful) experience. I managed to run most of the first 10ish miles, which is a personal best!! From then on every single step HURT! The conversation in my head repeated itself for several hours...'it hurts, I want to stop, I want to lay down' vs 'you can't stop, you can't lay down, keep putting one foot in front of the other - nothing else!'.

At miles 20 and 22 in particular, the comparison to TB treatment endurance was strong. That was when the torrential rain, cold and wind kicked in (and flashbacks to Torquay!). I thought however, that if I stopped I might develop 'marathon resistance' and then have to complete a longer and harder course in order to achieve a medal - no way was I going there! Pretty much everyone I know completes their treatment and I can do this too! Thanks again guys for your inspiration!

P.S. RIP Claire Squires, so very sad and so very well done x

11 April 2012

 Ok, with just 11 days to go here is a summary of what I've learnt (or already knew) about myself so far this year;

1. I'm not a natural born runner!

2. This is going to hurt!

3. If I move my arms at twice the speed I move my legs, it gives me the impression I'm going fast (or still moving if I've stopped!)

4. There are still too many hills in Torquay.

5. There are also lots of very pretty views in Torquay and if I look sideways at the sea, it seems to hurt less - therefore I'm considering making a wing-mirror style thingy, with photos of Babbacombe Downs on it.

6. My medal achieving target has been dramatically slashed from 24 hours to 8 hours, as they stop giving them out at 6pm!! Eeeeeek!

7. I'm a little bit scared, but very pleased to have the opportunity to do this, especially in 2012.

8. I have the rationale that each 1 mile for me on the day equals 1 week that someone takes their TB treatment for, hats off to you guys!

9. I know lots of very generous people - thank you once again for your support and sponsorship.

 

24 February 2012

 Who would have thought my training would go so well, have a look at this!!

http://www.marathonnewstv.com/?f=Claire&l=Green&ch=TB+Alert&v

 

03 January 2012

Hello! Welcome to my just giving page - I've never done this before, so please bear with me!

I work full time as the TB nurse at Torbay Hospital in South Devon. It's a great job and a lovely place to work.

I received the TB Alert news letter in October, which said they get 'one place every five years for someone to run the London Marathon' and when I read it I thought 'that place has got my name on it'! Then filed it and decided I was being daft - as in, I don't usually run and 26 miles is a long way!!

But, the thought of at least trying to get my first medal ever (after being severely put to shame by my 8 and 6 year old sons), doing so in 2012 (which in my mind practically makes me an Olympian!) and raising money for a fantastic charity became too tempting and at least worth a try.

So, I phoned up and said honestly that my aim would be to finish it in a day and not to come last! After a few weeks, I got the phone call to say it would be me and yes, it was a good job I was sitting down! However, I'm really, really pleased to have this opportunity and I won't let you down.

To date, I have new trainers and the weekly mileage is slowly increasing (although Christmas was a setback). My eyes are still stinging from 2.5 miles at 6am this morning in 35mph winds, heavy rain and too many hills - but I see that as part of my endurance training and will continue!

Please (pretty please) may I ask you to sponsor me for as much as you possibly can for this brilliant cause and then ask all your friends, family and neighbours if they will do the same!!

Please find below some information about Tuberculosis (TB) and the TB Alert charity.

Thank you so much,

Claire 

TB: The problem:

WORLDWIDE

Tuberculosis kills over 1.4 million people every year (3 people every minute), even though it is curable. Most deaths occur because patients don’t know a cure is available or are unable to access it.

Tuberculosis is the main killer of people living with HIV in developing countries. Yet TB can be cured even if someone is HIV positive – giving them years more life.

TB can affect anyone but is most common in those living in poverty because they are more likely to have poor immune systems and be living in close proximity of each other. Having TB, or being treated for TB, can prevent people from attending education, earning a living or looking after their family so it creates a further downward spiral of poverty.

IN THE UK

Many people think TB was eradicated in the UK. It never was. Last year there were nearly 9000 cases of TB, and nearly 500 deaths from the disease.

In 2006 (the last year for which we have full statistics) there were more new diagnoses of TB than HIV, Hepatitis C, stomach cancer or leukaemia.

What TB Alert does about the problem?

TB Alert raises awareness

of TB to ensure people recognise the symptoms of TB; are diagnosed without delays and before they pass on the disease to other people.

TB Alert increases access to effective treatment

by eliminating barriers such as poverty, geography, stigma and discrimination.

TB Alert supports patients to make sure they complete their treatment

(incomplete treatment risks drug resistance which is much harder to treat and practically a death sentence in poor countries).

TB Alert makes a real difference:

TB Alert helped over 10,000 patients worldwide last year to access treatment for TB – not only saving their life and enabling them to get back to work or school but also ensuring they didn’t pass on their TB to their friends and family.

TB Alert helps over 500 people in the UK with information or advice from our helpline or hardship grants to help them through their TB treatment

TB Alert provides over 25,000 patients; people concerned about TB and parents wanting to know about BCG with information leaflets last year

TB Alert reached nearly half a million people worldwide last year with awareness raising information (through leaflets, dramas and peer educators) on the symptoms of TB, how it is spread and that it is curable.

What your sponsorship could buy:

£25

helps us cure one more person of TB in India

£25

could pay travel costs for a month for a patient in the UK with no access to benefits to attend TB clinic

£100

pays for the printing of 500 posters which explain the symptoms of TB in 5 commonly used languages in the UK as well as English

£150

would be enough to translate a TB Alert patient leaflet into another language for people in the UK who cannot read English

£200

buys a uniform, bicycle and Home Based Care kit for a volunteer in Zambia looking after patients with TB/HIV in their homes

£250

pays the annual cost to run and maintain motorcycle for a health worker to follow up people who stop taking their medicine in Zimbabwe.

£1,200

pays for training for 50 Home Based Care Volunteers in Zambia to learn to treat and support patients with TB and HIV in their homes

£4,500

buys a motorcycle for a TB Case Finding worker in Malawi (including protective clothing) – to ensure that children and people with HIV are diagnosed early and treated

£5,000

buys an x-ray machine in India

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.