What am I doing?

Those of you who know me well, were stunned when I bought my first pair of trainers... so you’ll be even more surprised to hear I now have a second pair on the go! On Saturday 8 August 2015, I'll be swapping places with James. He'll be shouting from the riverbank whilst I'll be taking part in The London Triathlon to raise money for Dogs for the Disabled. I can tell you're shocked.... I’m still in denial!

Why Dogs for the Disabled?

The handsome beastie in the photo is Hector. He joined our family in January this year as Mum's assistance dog and I can't begin to describe how he's changed her life. She has been dependent on other people for many years now but little things like helping her put her shoes on make a huge difference to her, as well as giving her confidence to get out of the house more. Having been a carer from a young age, it's also a relief to know that Hector is always there for her, providing support and companionship.

You can read more on the right about how Dogs for the Disabled helps children or adults with disabilities become more independent and supports their families too. They have a small breeding programme and when the puppies are 14 months old, they undergo training and are matched with a suitable human partner.

It takes about £12,000 to train each dog so any help we could give them would be massively appreciated. I’m hoping to raise £500 which is enough to support a mum and her pups in their first eight weeks of their life.

I'm also trying to #BeatTheBoss

As well as raising money for a great cause, I'm trying to beat our CEO at TSB Bank, Paul Pester... Cue coughing fit!  He has very generously given every TSB competitor £50 for a charity of our choice, and then another £50 if we beat his time.  He is therefore on the hook for potentially around £20,000! I’m not sure I’m much of a threat but it’s the tri-ing that counts right?!