A massive THANK YOU to everyone for your incredible generosity and support.

WE DID IT!

Sunday in Edinburgh was absolutely beautiful, Andrew and Aunty Saz were up bright and early to warm up for the 10k run (with around 2000 other brave souls!)  The rest of the family went out to show their support en route.  The atmosphere was amazing as were the incredible Kenyan and Eritrean runners who literally sprinted past us and finished the race in less than 29 minutes.

David, Andrew and Saz were not quite as fast (but almost) and all finished in very good times. We were very proud of them, particularly for looking so cheerful throughout!

After a carbo-loading lunch (!) we all strolled down through Holyrood Park to the start of the Mini Run.  The sight of several hundred 4-8 year olds, all focused on one sporting aim was very moving.  Bupa had done an amazing organisational job and we had a great warm up instructor who really got the crowd going. Harry was a little overcome by all this and sat down through out the warm up, but Fred was very into it and showed us his moves.

The race was started by a "celebrity" from Emmerdale who no one had heard of,  and Andrew and Freddie took off like hares, we soon lost sight of them in the crowd.  Harry was somewhat handicapped by having to run with his mum and was forced to run at a gentler pace preferring to channel the tortoise from the fable!

The sun shone throughout and we saw Granny and Tata cheering us all on, Andrew and Fred had finished by the time we came up the home stretch and so were able to take a photo of our sprint finish!  The Maddy Fund got a special mention by the compere which raised a cheer - very heart warming.  Freddie finished in 11 minutes with Harry producing a very respectable 15 minute time - they received gorgeous gold medals for their efforts which have been worn almost continuously.

It was a wonderful day and we really are very grateful to you all for your interest and kindness - let us know if anyone wants to join us for the next one!

With love Andrew, Nonny, Freddie and Harry

 

The Madeleine Steel Charitable Trust was set up in memory of Maddy who died aged 6 months old following essential heart surgery.

The Madeleine Steel Charitable Trust provides bursaries for paediatric cardiac doctors to travel abroad to bring back cutting edge knowledge to the UK.  We currently have three doctors studying in Toronto, Canada: Dr Lucy Roche, Dr Gareth Morgan and Dr Jonathon Windram. Our 2010 award winner; Damien Kenny will be travelling to Chicago to work with the renowned Dr Hijazi.  Dr Anna Seale has completed her stint at Boston Children's Hospital and has returned to take up a consultant post at The Royal Brompton Hospital.

The awards are administered by the British Congenital Cardiac Association and we are very grateful for their help.

Please find out more at www.maddysteel.com

The Steel and Kenney families are immensely proud of the work of the Maddy Fund, and are looking forward to it having a real impact on paediatric cardiac care across the UK.

Every penny counts for The Maddy Fund and we are very very grateful for your support.

Thank you.

Freddie and Harry Steel