2012 is the year of the 12 in 12 challenge, a massive effort to raise a total £250,000 for HOPEHIV, through Team 12 - a crazy group who have all committed to 12 individual challenges, 1 each month through the year, and will all be trying to rope in friends and family along the way to join them on a challenge (or two), and do a bit of fundraising themselves.  Please see the12in12.com for more information on the team and the challenges involved, both for us personally and for the charity we are supporting, HOPEHIV.

I'm starting the year attempting to swim the equivalent of crossing the Channel, from the relative safety (and warmth) of my local pool.  If you would like to contribute some lengths to this attempt I would really appreciate it, my recent swimming history only involves a few quick cooling dips whilst on holiday! February brings a half marathon, which is further than I have any wish to run, and before the year is out I will have to do it twice.  Stamina and recovery will be tested in March, I've walked a marathon distance before, but not 3 in a row.  April brings some light relief, but it could take an hour to cover about 400m of mud, and hopefully Edinburgh marathon in May will let a few people enter as a relay team.  June takes me to the peaks of the Highlands, and July I'm back in Scotland for the event I'm most scared about, jumping off a 20ft waterfall into cold water and hoping I can make it down the river on a lilo.  August is up the mountains again, this time attempting the classic 3 Peaks Challenge.  The rest of the year is still awaiting confirmation, but will possibly involve a dragon boat race, the second half marathon, the craziness that is Survival of the Fittest and a suitably festive finale.

If the events above don't inspire you but you would like to do your own event and raise money towards this charity that would be fantastic, please just get in touch (more details can be found on the12in12.com).  There are also lots more events you can join with the rest of Team 12, January events range from the Disney marathon to a Wildman race and a Yoga-thon. If sport just isn't your thing, there are plenty of other fundraising possibilities.

It's going to be a big year, so please dig deep and sponsor me. Alternatively, we would all love our key supporters to stand alongside us throughout the year by setting up a monthly direct debit of £12/month (or whatever you feel comfortable with). You can do this by filling out the direct debit form which can be accessed through the12in12.com site, and sending it back to HOPEHIV (Please clearly mark it "12 in 12" so they can keep a running total for the team). This is the most efficient way of giving, and it would mean a lot to us to have as many of our friends supporting us by monthly giving.

Thank you and looking forward to hearing from you.





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