About 7 months ago, as he was gently inserting a needle full of anaesthetic in my arm, Dr Rickman said, “The surgery will last about 2 hours; you will be unconscious and then wake up with a brand new ACL. Nothing to worry about – 9 months will pass before you know it and you will be able to start playing sports again.” And then everything slipped into darkness... Time passed – a month on crutches, then a few months limping around the office and not a week to go by without seeing the face of my Irish physiotherapist Brendan.
But 9 months is a long time, too long when there are all these ideas & opportunities bouncing around. And on a cold night in late December, in the company of good friends, a decision was taken. A decision to help those in need, and do it in the most appropriate fashion and timing available – by running a UNICEF-sponsored semi-marathon (21.1km) in Geneva on the 15 of May, 9 months after having had one’s knee severed in 5 places with all the ligaments in it fully reordered.
And while this is not an idea Brendan is particularly happy about, that is certainly not the case with those residing at the “Penyo and Mariya” orphanage in Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria. Because they need our support and donations to this initiative, which will be a promise to them that while there is no mum and dad – there are other people out there who care.
Thank you for your help and please note that your donations will be matched pound for pound by HSBC!
ZOV is a small children's charity that works with children's institutions in Bulgaria. ZOV means appeal in Bulgarian and we fund projects that help the children to lead happy, stable lives and fulfil their potential. Bulgaria has the highest number of children in institutions in the European Union*, institutions that severely limit their chances in life. Whilst ZOV supports the goal of de-institutionalisation within Bulgaria, it works to help address the many difficulties experienced by children who are in care today.
