Nicole Emerson
Nikki's marathon for the NSIC
Fundraising for Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Charitable Fund
Story
Right, for those of you who don't know, I had a car accident and broke my back at the end of June, which paralysed me from the hips down and I'm now in a wheelchair (obviously) and attempting to try every Paralympic sport in the world by the end of the year. Or so it seems. I think wheelchair racing may be 'the one' though!
So anyway, I did Silverstone half-marathon a few weeks ago and somehow (i.e. by sheer luck) I won it and the lovely London marathon people have been nice (or foolish!) enough to let me enter the wheelchair race. So in under a month's time I'll be preparing for about 2 and a half hours of sweat, blood and tears (of joy. at the end.). Good.
I'm racing to raise money for Stoke Mandeville National Spinal Injuries Unit, which is obviously somewhere I care an insane amount about, and in particular to help them replace the sports department that just got demolished. Those massive legends among you who visited me during my 12 weeks at Stoke (in one case every day, Lou I love you) will know just how much time I spent down in that mouldy old archery room, and I'm the first to admit that without the guns I gained from weights and the chance to play such 'inspired' sports as wheelchair hockey and wheelchair cricket (try them yourselves, immense fun!) I'd probably have got massively depressed and more importantly immensely fat. Which would then have made me more depressed. Subideal.
I'm not going to give some sob story about how giving money to this cause will help improve the lives of the poor victims of spinal cord injury whose lives have been ruined by paralysis because the BBC gives enough of that at the moment, and quite frankly I think it's crap. But the first bit when you're in hospital is a bit rubbish and sport really does help make it a bit more bearable, and I'd like people in the future who end up in Stoke to have the awesome rehab I got which is now no longer available.
Also, please come support me..I'd love to see all of you at the end!
So anyway, I did Silverstone half-marathon a few weeks ago and somehow (i.e. by sheer luck) I won it and the lovely London marathon people have been nice (or foolish!) enough to let me enter the wheelchair race. So in under a month's time I'll be preparing for about 2 and a half hours of sweat, blood and tears (of joy. at the end.). Good.
I'm racing to raise money for Stoke Mandeville National Spinal Injuries Unit, which is obviously somewhere I care an insane amount about, and in particular to help them replace the sports department that just got demolished. Those massive legends among you who visited me during my 12 weeks at Stoke (in one case every day, Lou I love you) will know just how much time I spent down in that mouldy old archery room, and I'm the first to admit that without the guns I gained from weights and the chance to play such 'inspired' sports as wheelchair hockey and wheelchair cricket (try them yourselves, immense fun!) I'd probably have got massively depressed and more importantly immensely fat. Which would then have made me more depressed. Subideal.
I'm not going to give some sob story about how giving money to this cause will help improve the lives of the poor victims of spinal cord injury whose lives have been ruined by paralysis because the BBC gives enough of that at the moment, and quite frankly I think it's crap. But the first bit when you're in hospital is a bit rubbish and sport really does help make it a bit more bearable, and I'd like people in the future who end up in Stoke to have the awesome rehab I got which is now no longer available.
Also, please come support me..I'd love to see all of you at the end!
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: although it says the money's going to Bucks Hospitals NHS Trust, I have it in writing that your cash will go nowhere near Wycombe general (eew) and will be going straight to Stoke Mandeville National Spinal Injuries Unit where I was for 12 weeks. By donating this way they get 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.
So please sponsor me and feel good about yourself for the rest of the day, and again on April 26th when you watch the marathon!
Much love xxxxx
COMPLETED!!!!! Way slower than expected, but it was the most incredible experience and thank you so much to everyone who was there supporting and who's given to this amazing charity!