My name is Tom Weaver and I am planning to raise sponsorship money for Guillain-Barré Syndrome support group. I intend to achieve this by partaking in the ‘Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon’ held in San Francisco on the 14^th June 2009, this daunting triathlon entails:

• 1.5 mile swim through frigid shark infested waters from Alcatraz island to the mainland,
• 18 miles of cycling the notoriously steep hills of San Francisco ,
• 8 mile run including 400 uneven sand covered log steps.

 Reason

The reason behind me wanting to support this illness is due to me being affected by it twice in the past, once severely when I was 12 being fully paralysed for over two months followed by a slow gradual recovery, and once mildly several years later when only my walking was impaired. Luckily I have made a full recovery both times. (Apart from the occasional unsteady hand)

My aim is to prove that people affected by this illness can make a full recovery and achieve an active lifestyle.

I know my story would have been motivational for myself, and my family to hear whilst I was at my worst, lying paralysed in a hospital bed attached to various machines.

GBS Definition

Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a disease which causes the immune system to attack the peripheral nerves causing a tingling sensation and loss of feeling this can then lead to paralyses of the legs, arms, face and respiratory muscles which control breathing.

For more information please reference the below website:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/guillain-barre-syndrome

Please Consider Donating Even the Smallest Amount

To This Worthy Cause As Every Little Helps