My name is Bethan, I am 8 years old. Daddy and his friends are doing the London Triathlon for Shine which is a charity that supports children who suffer from Hydrocephalus (like me) and Spina Bifida, please read my story below.....

In June 2010 I was transferred from Bedford Hospital to Addenbrookes by ambulance for life saving mastoidectomy surgery. A simple ear infection had spread into my skull, surgeons had to operate to remove the infection and part of my skull that had become infected.I was also told that I had suffered a rare stroke which caused temporary facial paralysis, papiloedema and hydrocephalus.

I have since had many more weeks in hospital, regular blood tests due to being on warfarin (which thankfully I no longer need) and another 21 trips to theatre, mainly due to the high pressure in my skull which is contolled by a shunt. During this time I had been having really bad headaches everyday, but they are getting better now that I am getting used to my shunt.

Shine Charity has been a great support to me and my family since leaving hospital and I know that they support many other families that have a similar disability to myself.

Mummy saw that Shine were offering places for the London Triathlon and that it would be a great way for Daddy to raise money for a worthy cause and to get fit again!!! So Daddy (Simon Spavins), Andrew Weeks, Dan Phillips, and Giles Witheat are going to be doing the 'Olympic' (!) Level London Triathlon which includes a 1500 metre swim in the docks, a 40km bike ride, and a then to finish off a 10k run.

If you are able support this worthy charity and their efforts it would be really nice and it's worth sponsoring them for just getting out of a wet suit!!

Good luck to the four of them!!