Story
Three weeks and counting!!!
Amy's Story - Aged 2
It all happened on Father’s Day 2013, which didn't turn out to be the happy Fathers Day Sunday we had planned.
The previous week our two year old daughter Amy had been suffering with Chicken Pox but was making a seemingly normal recovery to what appeared to be a normal bout of Chicken Pox. However, over the course of a few short hours Amy began to deteriorate rapidly and she fell very ill. At 8pm in the evening we were faced with the moment that every parent fears and ambulances were called.
Amy spent several days on a life support machine at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. She had succumbed to a massive internal infection through her Chicken Pox that was poisoning her system. The doctors looked concerned and the future looked incredibly bleak.
Thankfully, due to the amazing work of all the nurses, doctors and carers, the infection was brought under control and Amy was brought back to consciousness. Amy went on to spend a further 2 weeks in hospital. Despite suffering from some scarring Amy has made a complete recovery.
Words will never express the gratitude that we have for all those people who saved our daughter’s life. We will never forget the care, compassion and consideration that everyone had and the support given to myself and my wife through what was the worst period of our lives.
I am looking to raise some money as a small token of our appreciation for everything the John Radcliffe did for us. It is my wish that any money I raise will be donated directly to the Childrens Critical Care Unit so that they can continue their great work and help other families that are in the same nightmare that we experienced.
So....The Challenge!
I wanted to do something extremely challenging that will require self motivation and discipline. I wanted to do something that I will have to work hard to achieve and be worthwhile. (Anyone that knows me will know that there is little point in my doing something like shaving all my hair off as people wouldn't see a difference).
On November 8th I will fly out to Death Valley in the USA and I will then cycle 423km in just 5 days!!
Day 1 – Beatty Junction to Stovepipe Wells via Daylight Pass (4,317ft). Cycling distance 48 km.
Day 2 – Stovepipe Wells to Panamint Springs via Emigrant Pass (5,328ft). Cycling distance 87 km.
Day 3 – Panamint Springs to Furnace Creek. A tough day with approx. 3,400ft of ascent, but 5,000ft of descent! Cycling distance 90km.
Day 4 – Furnace Creek to Pahrump via Devils Hole – a Death Valley National Monument, Zabriskie Point (700ft) and Death Valley Junction (2,037ft). Cycling distance 98km.
Day 5 – Pahrump to Las Vegas via Mountain Springs Summit (5,490ft) the highest point of our challenge, and a long descent past Red Rock Canyons. Cycling distance 100km.
I think you will agree that the cycle event I have chosen will be hard and a real personal challenge and I hope that this may influence you to donate just a little more. Anything you can donate to help this great cause is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Matt