Big cheer for you all!!!!
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On 6th June I’m aiming to complete my first Triathlon, at Blenheim Palace. It's a 750m swim, 20k cycle, topped off with a nice little 5k run.
The swim stage is going to be hard enough, as three months ago I could barely do 25m in the pool and the swim at Blenheim is “open water” (in a lake, basically), but then to make matters worse it’s followed by the cycle and run.
I’m doing it for two, very unequally important reasons; firstly, to prove a point that at my old age I’ve still “got it” (whatever that is!), but mainly to raise some funds for the “Friends Of The Neonatal Unit At St Georges”, (http://www.friendsnnu.org.uk/).
For those who don't know, the NNU at St George’s Hospital in Tooting cares for some of the most vulnerable and premature babies in the South East in its intensive care and high-dependency units. Over 500 new-born babies every year are looked after by the medical and nursing staff; my God-Daughter, Isabel, spent many months at the NNU when she was first born.
The Friends charity was set up to raise extra funds to pay for vital equipment and staff training that can’t be covered by the NHS alone. It can cost up to £1000 a day to care for a new-born in intensive care, and without the extra funding from the Friends less little ones can be cared for.
As much as I have grumbled about my back-to-basics swimming lessons, getting up earlier than the sparrows to go cycling, or bemoaned my aged, aching knees, nothing I do compares with the effort these small babies show in getting through their ordeals, or the sheer determination of their parents to pull them through. It can be truly exhausting, but life-giving.
It's not much to ask, then, that I put myself through all the training for such an amazing cause and I would ask that you please sponsor me for as much as you can. All the money goes straight to the Friends of NNU and donating through Justgiving means the charity gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
Thanks & wish me luck!
Jason
