Lucy Newberry
CHANNEL SWIM & BOLTON IRONMAN UK IN MEMORY OF PAULINE MITCHELL
Fundraising for Michael Sobell Hospice
Story
On 8th April this year it would have been my mum’s 60th birthday and on the 22nd April it was the 5th anniversary since she sadly passed away from breast cancer.
To commemorate this milestone and anniversary her son, Steve Mitchell and son-in-law, Matt Newberry, will be aiming to complete two MASSIVE challenges and in the process raise money for Michael Sobell House (MSH). www.michaelsobellhouse.co.uk
The first challenge is one of sports toughest endurance tests, the Ironman UK Triathlon. This is being held in Bolton, on Sunday 1st August 2010. This involves a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run – so a very long way!! They have 17 hours to complete the Ironman but are both hoping to do it in less than 14 hours.
www.ironmanuk.com
Just under 8 weeks later the pair will take on their second challenge, which is by far the biggest; they will attempt a relay swim of the English Channel on 29th September. This is approx a 21 mile swim, which can take anything between 12 and 22 hours, depending on the conditions. Team MSH (as they will be known) also includes John Walsh their Training Coach and Motivator, who will be supporting them on the pilot boat whilst they are swimming.
A Channel Swim differs from all other swims of the same distance because of the sheer complexity, the amount of shipping traffic and the cold water temperatures. This is why it is considered the ultimate challenge amongst long distance swimmers. More people have climbed Mount Everest than have swum the English Channel!!
TRAINING
In order to train for both challenges Matt and Steve have had to put in a huge amount of training every week and this has been anywhere between 15 – 25 hours.
This year they have also completed a number of Triathlons, three Half Ironman’s and many hours swimming at Dover harbor to also aid their training.
EVENTS 2010:
NAME
Date Merchant Taylors Olympic Triathlon (Hertfordshire) Sunday 16th May The Forrest man Half Ironman (New Forrest) Sunday 23rd May Windsor Olympic Triathlon Sunday 13th June Exmore UK Half Ironman Sunday 20th June Big Cow Half Ironman (Milton Keynes) Sunday 4th July Bolton UK Ironman Sunday 1st August The Big Woody Half Ironman (Gloucester) Saturday 28th August 2010 Channel Swim (Dover – Calais) Wednesday 29th September WHY MSH? Michael Sobell House provides a centre of excellence for specialist palliative care for patients with life limiting illnesses and support for their families and carers. Funding must reach an annual target of £1,200,000 each year to maintain patient care and this target is reached though fundraising and voluntary contributions. My mum visited MSH on many occasions, especially towards the end of her life and she found so much comfort and peace from being there (the large vodka and tonics that she used to have in bed always helped!). Anyone who has visited MSH will tell you that the staff, grounds and atmosphere makes the place very special. Since my mum passed away we have been trying to raise money and awareness for MSH. The year mum passed away Steve and Matt raised £3000 for MSH by completing a three-week trek in Nepal, to the Mera Peak summit 6476 meters (21240 feet) and in October 2007 Steve, John Walsh Junior and Senior, completed the Snowdonia marathon (the hardest marathon in Europe) raising a further £1000 for MSH. Until you have firsthand experience of someone you love dying from a terminal illness you don’t think about the care they would receive or how it is funded. Seeing firsthand the amazing work they do at MSH has made us want to help. A massive thank you for your support. Love Lucy, Matt, Steve, Mick and Amelie xxx P.S. I (Lucy) and my cousin Erika Smith will be trying to attempt the Bedford Sprint Triathlon on 15th August this year so for those of you that didn’t know my mum but know me or Erika please please please donate (distances’ no way near Ironman but we all have to start somewhere!!!) xxxThanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
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