Robert, my ten year old son, has volunteered to be my personal trainer for this event. In fact he jumped at the chance to be in charge of the stop watch and boss me about. By June 21st 2008 we were up to week 11 of training from the 16 week training schedule and I was able to run continuously for 40 minutes. However, my knee started playing up and I was even in pain walking and lying down. After a course of physio, the pain has got a lot better but I have had to downgrade to the Walsall 5k Run, which happens at the same time and place as the 10k run. Robert, Andrew, Alastair and the dog will all be doing the 3k walk, so our total distance will now be 17k!

Robert, like one in approximately 3000 babies a year, was born with TOF/OA. He was unable to feed and swallow at birth because his food pipe was a dead end and was not connected to his stomach. He had major surgery the day after birth. Children with TOF often have on going health problems, particularly with their chests and learning to eat solid food and many have other conditions as well (VACTERL syndrome). TOFS helps families to not feel isolated and to have confidence in their caring through putting families in contact, regular newsletters, internet site, annual conferences and staffing an office. TOF/OA is not a well known condition and for many parents, the initial contact with TOFS is their first chance to learn about the condition. TOFS also support research into the causes of the condition and have produced an excellent book called 'The TOF Child'. TOFS has helped us so much and I would love to be able to help them maintain that support for TOF children and their families. This 5 km fun run in September will mark, to the month, ten years since we brought Robert home from hosptial and ten years that TOFS has supported us. For more information on the TOF condition and TOFS  the charity see www.tofs.org.uk.

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: TOFS 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. So please sponsor me now!  Many thanks for your support. ROBERT AND GEMMA XXX

Additional Amounts (£45 as of 01/09/08)

Thanks to Audrey and Ronnie Woods for their £5 sponsorship.

Thanks to Ethel Woods for her £5 sponsorship.

In Memory of Mrs Mary Bates - £5 sponsorship.

Thanks to Peter and Ethel Thompson for their £20 sponsorships.

Thanks to Maralyn Hodgkinson for her £10 sponsorship.

STOP THE PRESS 28/09/08

COMPLETED THE 5 KM RUN IN A RESPECTABLE 39'08''. WAS NOT LAST!!! THANKS TO ALL OUR SPONSORS.