26/04/2010 - Update
Hi and thank you for visiting my JustGiving page and welcome.
I DID IT !!! - It was the most amazing day and something I will remember for the rest of my life. It started well with a pigeon sh*tting on my husbands head at 6.30am yesterday morning whilst we walked to the train station to get to the marathon. I took that as a clear sign of 'Good Luck' !!
I was aiming to finish the race just under 6 hours, however, I finished at 6hrs 17mins - I really hadn't planned for the toilet queues!! It was great to get the rain first thing, and then it really warmed up later in the run and that slowed me down a little bit.
The main thing is I finished safe and sound and we have raised now with gift aid nearly £2400. I am so VERY grateful to everybody who has supported me (in all your ways) and for the words of encouragement that I have received.
If you are visiting this site for the first time, then please still dig deep and donate... it's never too late!
I am now going to try and get up off the sofa, which is going to take a bit of doing :)
Again to you all - A Huge Thank You,
Nicki
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24/04/2010 - Update
Hi, As always thank you again for visiting my JustGiving page and welcome.
Well the running shirt has been washed and the timing chip is on my trainers... I am officially ready to go!
Many, many thanks to all of you who have supported me so far and for the great turn out last Sunday for the Mad Runners Tea Party. It was a great day and we raised just over £500. It is not just a thank you for money, it is about time and energy that people gave me to organise the event. It was a huge achievement and success.
This event is not about me, it is about the people who need our support every day in life - the oldies who don't see another face from one week to the next and to help stamp out the hideous abuse of old people that is happening every day in our communities.
So, Here's to tomorrow and to a safe, prosperous, exhilarating day for all runners .... and finally Here's to my Mum and Dad, without them, I could not do this.
Wish me luck!!
xxxx
12/04/2010 - A further update
Hi, Thank you all for visiting my JustGiving page and welcome.
This is just a quick update to firstly thank everybody for their donations and support and secondly just to mention that I have now completed all the hard training!! Yeh! - I ran 20 miles last Saturday and now I am slowing down for the 'Big Day'.
I have my race number now - 33636 and my running shirt has arrived! - This truly is happening!! - I am actually quite nervous about it all now and never thought the training would be so hard. However, I am two weeks away now, so let's just go for it!
Many Thanks again for your support and keep the cash coming....!
Nicki
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13/03/2010 - An Update
Hi, Thank you for visiting my JustGiving page and welcome.
For those of you who have already donated/sponsored me - thank you very much! If this is your first visit to my page then please dig deep and help me reach my target.
Today I managed 17 miles in my training, only three more hard training weekends until the wind down to the marathon. Six weeks tomorrow I will be going for it on the streets of London!
I would like to thank the management of The Black Jug in Horsham and Beauty Secrets of Horsham, who have both donated really generous raffle prizes to be drawn at 'The Mad Runners Tea Party' on the 18th April. We are praying for fine weather and a good turn out to support the event.
Well that's all for now, I will update again nearer the time. To everyone helping me organise the tea party - thank you very much, for those of you who constantly support me - thank you and to my husband who kicks me out the door every few days for a run - cheers!
Hi,
Welcome to my JustGiving page and thank you for taking the time to visit it.
Considering I was always the short chubby girl at school who thought athletics was a place in Greece, it seems hard to believe that I have decided to run the Virgin London Marathon 2010. I guess if the fat kid can do it...then anybody can...!
WHY oh why...?
For anybody that does know me, you will be aware that my dear Dad passed away in December 2007 after a very difficult three years for him and us all. After his initial stroke in 2004 his health decreased and after quite a struggle he eventually moved to a sheltered accomodation in Horsham where he could be taken care of properly.
I would visit Dad daily at the home and it became very clear to me that some of the elderly never had visitors or family and infact lived in total isolation except for the carer that may visit. My Dad was lucky, he had a stream of people who popped in and brightened up his day and when well enough he went to various day centres where he mixed with other people and made some friends (even though he said he hated them all and he would rather be watching the horse racing...! mmmmm) Jokes aside, the work that Help the Aged and Age Concern do in the community to help the elderly is amazing and for some people it really is a life line in what can only be a very fearful and lonely world.
For the first time ever there are more over 65's in the country than there are teenagers and although this generation have over 40 per cent of the vote, older people feel they have no voice and little influence. Help the Aged and Age Concern offer daily living support, financial advice, befriending services and much much more.
My last word (or two) on the subject....
Getting old is something we are all guaranteed of doing.... the one thing that is not guaranteed is the level of support and care we will have around us when that time arrives. I am so thankful I was there for my Dad and I could give him all the love and support he needed and make his last few years happy ones. He never really adjusted to living in a home, or dealing with his illness, however, it was all made a little easier by the support network he had around him.
I know we are experiencing difficult financial times in our world today, however, I ask you to dig deep for me please and empty those purses and trouser pockets! Hunt down the side of the sofa and in the bottom of your work drawers. Send that cash to me please!
My target is £1500 and it is so obtainable with YOUR help!
My very final word.....
I am running the London Marathon to raise awareness (and cash) for Help the Aged/Age Concern and to celebrate my 40th birthday year...Yes I will soon be a grown up..! However, most importantly, I am running in memory of my Mum and Dad, I can't think of a more fitting way to celebrate their lives (except perhaps a world cruise with Brad Pitt and champagne all the way........................ :) )
Many, many thanks for your support,
Nicki
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