Aching Arms Teddybear runs London Marathon

This is a few years coming, so allow me to share the story of the how and why…

 2017 -  26.2 

I took up running in 2016, wanting to get healthier and run a marathon before my 30^th Birthday. The London Marathon always coincided with my birthday weekend…many a birthday hangover looking at these super fit people running 26.2 miles. I joined the DecaGarage and Keith Clarke got me into shape before I signed up for Dublin 2016 as my first marathon, only to find out 2 weeks before I ran my first marathon I was actually successful in the Ballot to run the London Marathon on the 23^rd of April, 2017 – 2 days after my 30^th birthday! Plans were made with a few family & the Bestie to come with me for the weekend so I could celebrate my 30^th. Whilst I was training for said Marathon, said bestie, Laura fell pregnant 😊 at 20 weeks Laura and Bump came for support. The race didn’t go well for me with a lot of tummy cramps but I got to the finish line unhappy with my performance I said I would try again and try harder to get a Good For Age time and run London on My Terms. I was cheered around the course and cheered up by Laura & Bump as they met me at the finish line for a finish photo of me, Laura and finisher medal on Bump.

2017 - 23+2weeks

Cormac was born at 9.03am 14th May 2017 – Laura had been suffering from what the doctors had thought was just Braxton hicks. At 7.30am on the Sunday morning she started bleeding, her partner called an ambulance. At less than 24 weeks if the baby came and didn't breathe, they would not attempt resuscitation... Laura delivered Cormac at 9.03 and breathed a sigh of relief when he cried... he was alive... there was hope. He was whisked away to NICU, their home for the next week; each day, each hour brought its own challenge. On the following Saturday evening the neo natal consultant needed to speak to Laura & Paul, it was not good news. Cormac's kidneys were failing, he was relying on the ventilator, so his lungs were suffering, his BP was dropping and he'd had a second brain bleed. He fought the good fight in the week he lived, a little warrior; but sadly passed away in Laura’s arms in the early hours of Sunday 21st May 2017. I got to meet Cormac for the first and only time in the Chapel of Rest in the Royal Hospital; my heart broke as I watched Laura hold Cormac and sing Twinkle Twinkle to her boy one last time before laying him down in what seemed such a huge baskenette as he was so tiny. Cormac was only with us for one week...but he left an impact that will last a lifetime.

Aching Arms

Aching Arms helps bereaved parents who experienced the heartbreak of losing their baby, during pregnancy, at birth or soon after. Laura found Aching Arms through an online bereavement support group, she seen they provided bears to bereaved parents all she had to do was enter her details and at no cost a few weeks later a little bear in memory of Florence Rose Walsh arrived at Lauras house. A physical comfort from other parents that knew and understood her pain. When Laura had left the Royal Hospital she left with leaflets and a Memory Box; as comforting as the memory box is she could not hug it like she could her Teddybear, a physical comfort for the emptiness felt. When Laura contacted Aching Arms to donate bears to the Royal Hospital in Cormacs name the charity had said they had no volunteers in Northern Ireland to organise the bears...they asked if Laura herself could volunteer. With Laura's work and Aching Arms support, Aching Arms bears are now available in every Trust in Northern Ireland; support and training is available from Aching Arms to midwives and work places. There is also Supporting Arms - a support group service to families. There is no cost to bereaved parents, everything works through donations from other bereaved families in memory of their precious little ones. 

2020 – Lockdown Marathons

Noone needs reminded about 2020 - with everything & anything being postponed or cancelled this effected a lot of charities globally. London Marathon holds the world record for an annual single-day charity fundraising event, a lot of charities depend on it; so when LM announced the option of going "Virtual", Aching Arms reached out to any runners who could run a marathon but only had 4 weeks to prepare for 26.2 miles AND raise money. I volunteered as I had to thank Aching Arms for helping Laura when I felt I couldn't, I couldnt provide the comfort or understanding she required but they got her through one of the toughest moments in her life and I knew how much she has worked to try bring comfort to others. I wasn't sure how to raise money with such little notice; but a lightbulb moment - dress as the Aching Arms Teddy Bear and run the London Virtual Marathon around the Eoghan Ruadh Hurling Pitches in Dungannon. I completed this in 4 hrs 52Mins, drenched but buzzing about how well the fundraising went. I promised Laura that when restrictions were lifted I would get my Good For age and go back to London on My Terms...they were now to run the real London Marathon as the Aching Arms Bear.

2021 – Belfast Practice Run - I'm mad but not totally mad, in 2021 with so many events still postponed training wasnt put in for the postponed Belfast Marathon but it was finally going to happen, so instead of aiming for the GFA time I thought it would be a great chance to try out the TeddyBear in real Marathon conditions. Thanks to the help of Tracey McArdle and Edele Muldoon, they joined me for the bants and to be my eyes for the 5 hours it took to run 26.2 miles...a few challenges cropped up like speed bumps, water bottles, other people too close. With no peripheral vision running a Marathon surrounded by 5,000 people in a Teddybear suit proved to be a little tougher than I estimated... but after running across that finish line I was even more determined to hit that London Marathon Finish Line!!

2022 – Manchester - Good For Age - After Belfast I put the head down and started coaching from Natalie Hall to try and achieve what seemed impossible as I had failed before. Richard Bradley was great company and kept the paces up during training. On race day things didnt quite go to plan (thanks again to the tummy) but I finished in 3hrs 36mins - well under the 3 hrs 45 requirement...I finally qualified and the Bear had a slot for London!!

2023 - Marathon Teddy to run London! This year on the 23^rd of April (the exact same date as my 1^st trip to LM) the London Marathon will have approx 50,000 runners participating... that's some difference from 0 at a Hurling pitch and 5,000 in Belfast. London also gets toasty warm...this is going to be a challenge that I really am unsure of how it will go. But I do know Laura and her Rainbow, Eimear (Cormacs' sister & my Fairy Godaughter) will be there to cheer me on and meet me at the finish line (when I finally get there). I will be running this in memory of Cormac but also in memory of so many more ... 

To any bereaved parents – if you would like to PM me a colour & initials, I would be honoured to add a little heart onto my running vest as I run 26.2 Miles in Memory of them. I will need to be contacted before the 16^th April. 

If you wish to find out more about Aching Arms please check out their website or you can also follow Laura's page dedicated to Cormac - Cormac's Bear (a teddybear that travels the world!)