In 2008 our FUND totalled £10210. £5000 was donated to to the Royal Marsden Hospital, & £5210 to Leukaemia Research through Rotary International -  Fantastic. My 2009/10 page is www.justgiving.com/charlietipperaugust2009

Thankyou for visiting my fundraising page. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Rotary-IronmanUK Triathlon Charities will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. ***** This page will remain open to sponsorship until November 30th, 2008.

              SPONSOR-TIP AGAINST LEUKAEMIA 

         2.4 Mile Swim -  112 Mile Cycle - 26.2 Mile Run

               Race Completed in 12 Hrs, 46 minutes

             Swim 1:14:16 - Bike 6:52:51 - Run 4:16:35

                         (Finished 556th / 1301 starters)

I have a Charity place on the Ironman UK Triathlon 2008 on the 7th of September committing to raise funds for Rotary International and The Royal Marsden Hospital.

It has always been an ambition of mine to compete in an event for Charity. 

The principle charity for Ironman UK 2008 is Leukaemia Research. This was my primary reason for competing in this event.  My Fathers best mate Terry Barnard lost his son Neil to leukaemia in 1994 aged 21.  He was a great guy who fought for four years against his illness with much dignity.  Neil was treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

The Rotary Club will allow me to donate 50% of my sponsorship fund directly to the Royal Marsden Hospital.  It is the worlds’ oldest hospital, dedicated to cancer treatment, research and education.  Since securing my place at Ironman UK, a fire has destroyed part of the hospital. Hence, sponsorship is even more important to help continue their pioneering treatment and patient care.

Terry has maintained a close tie with the hospital, creating a relationship with Amanda Heaton (the Fundraising and Development manager at the RMH). This has enabled the proceeds he has raised in the last 14 years through various fundraising activities to directly benefit the patients, which the NHS does not automatically supply.  These Funds have provided medical provisions such as a blood cell counting machine and automatic blood pressure monitors. Also electric beds, exercise bikes, televisions and dvd players help to make the patients recovery more comfortable. 

I chatted to Terry several years ago about the Charity work he has done for the Royal Marsden since Neil`s passing . During that conversation I said it was an ambition of mine to participate in an event for charity, and would it be possible to raise funds that could add to his fundraising efforts for the Royal Marsden. 

4 years later I have a place on Ironman UK.. I am delighted to be raising sponsorship in memory of Neil.

My Sponsorship will go directly to the ward Neil was a patient on, and Leukaemia Research. With the help of Terry and Amanda, my sponsors will know exactly what they have helped to provide with their generosity. I will receive a cheque personally from Rotary which I will immeditely give to them - it could not be more direct - not a penny wasted.

So `Sponsor-Tip` to raise as much as he can

I apologise if I have not spoken to some of you in a while.  My wife Gail & I spent 7 months of 2007 travelling Australia, where we drove from Perth to Sydney in a campervan.  An awesome experience.  Now I am preparing for the Ironman in September, training six days a week at home in Dorset. Hopefully I can finish in one piece!  & I did!

All the Best.

Charlie (Sponsor-Tip)