Hello!!

I decided I wanted to raise some money for charity in 2014 as it's something I've never actively done. It made sense therefore, in a bid to raise the money, to do a few other things I've never done before. So I've entered myself into the following endurance events, none of which I’ve previously attempted:

1.  2nd March 2014- Reading Half Marathon - 13.1 miles, on foot, around the majestic streets of Reading. I’ll get to see all the pretty sights like, erm, the Butts Centre?

2.  23rd March 2014- Windsor Duathlon – Bit of running (5km), bit of cycling (20km) and then a bit more running just in case (5km).

3.  26th April 2014- Tough Mudder - A 10 mile assault course; water, barbed wire, electric fences, mud and, hopefully in this one, some LOLs too.

4.  24th May 2014- Eton Triathlon – A dip in Dorney Lake (400m), followed by 21.2km on the bike and a 5km run to top it off. I hate swimming, and I’m pretty crap at it, so this one is a big deal for me. I might drown?

5.  15th June 2014 -London to Brighton Bike Ride - 54 miles on the bike, just to make sure that I’ve got proper saddle rash by the end of all this.

6. 16-17th July 2014- Three Peaks Challenge - Climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike & Snowdon within 24 hours. 27 miles walking, with a total ascent of 9,800 feet, and 462 miles of driving in between. Luckily I'll have Chris Jenkins, Dan White and Pete Strang to keep me company.

7. 3rd August 2014 - London Triathlon - Same as Dorney but I get the pleasure of (trying to) swim for 750 m in Royal Victoria Dock. Yay...!

It's nothing ground breaking but I'm nearly 30 and I need to start ticking things off the list. So, what charity and why raise money for them?...

In 1974 my mum and dad welcomed their first born into the world. Nicholas Hill. My brother, Nicky, inherited all of dad's musical notes and had a wonderful singing voice. He was a happy child, even more so when my sister joined the Hill household. Together, in Wallingford, they set up home and formed a family.

In 1982 everything changed. Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. It's caused either by an infection invading the brain, or through the immune system attacking the brain in error. Anyone at any age can get it; around 4,000 cases appear in the U.K. each year. Compared to other infectious diseases, it has quite a high mortality rate and the illness can be very quickly fatal. At the tender age of 7, Nicky passed away.

A couple of years later I graced the world with my presence, completely oblivious to the events that had passed. Whilst, over time, I learned of Nicky and shared my family's emotions, I never truly appreciated what they went through until I became a father myself, to the beautiful and wonderful Phoebe Hill. Only now, after experiencing the indescribable emotions parenthood brings, can I begin to contemplate the pain they endured and the strength they had to get though such a situation.

The Encephalitis Society directly support people affected by the illness and their families in the U.K. They provide information, days out, around the clock support, and they contribute to on-going research. They are the only charity of their kind and they are heavily reliant on fundraising. The money you provide will help support other families that suffered the same experience as mine.   

Thank you for your time. I’ll keep you updated with how I get along with my events as they happen and I'll let you know my fundraising total after the last event.

Love,

Tom

xxx