Hello everyone My Summer of Sporting Silliness Thanks very much for visiting my sponsorship page. I know that you get bombarded with numerous pleas for donations for various endeavours, so I really appreciate it. Earlier this year I had the very silly idea that I would take part in a whole bunch of sporting events this summer (more of this below) in an attempt to raise money for two causes very close to my heart: the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society and Leukaemia Research. Well now the first of these events is this weekend so I thought I had better get on with trying to raise some money! If you are willing to spend one minute reading on, I'll tell you why I am raising money for these two charities.... National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS) I have recently been diagnosed with something I had never previously heard of - Ankylosing Spondylitis. Ankylosing means fusing together. Spondylitis indicates inflammation of the vertebrae. Unfortunately for sufferers it is an incurable condition where the tendons and ligaments attached to the spine are slowly replaced with bone which leaves sufferers in constant pain while the spine does its best to fuse together. The only thing that sufferers can do is manage (and hopefully contain) the condition through careful treatment and exercise. All-in-all, a bit frustrating!!! NASS was founded by patients, doctors and physiotherapists in 1975 at The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath. It seeks to provide education, support and information to other doctors, physios and sufferers. It also assists with research projects and has set up over 100 support branches across the UK. Leukaemia Research With more than 7,000 people being diagnosed with leukaemia in the UK each year, there are few people who have not been directly or indirectly affected by leukaemia, or know someone who has. Even more concerning is that leukaemia is the most common cancer contracted by children. Several years ago a good school friend contracted Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). Despite his incredibly brave fight and surviving for far longer than his doctors predicted, he lost his battle with ALL. This tragic loss of a young, talented, positive and energetic young guy to leukaemia was terrible and this is why I also want to raise money for Leukaemia Research - the only national charity dedicated exclusively to funding research throughout the UK into the causes, treatments and cures of all blood cancers. The Events Anyone who has seen me exercise can confirm my swimming style is more "drowning-with-style" than the "Thorpedo", and my cycling is closer to Charlie Chaplin's than Lance Armstrong's!! Despite this, I am due to take part in the following events: 7 June - Blenheim Triathlon (750m swim/20km bike/5km run) 11 July - King Sturge Property Triathlon at Eton (team event) 17 July - Standard Chartered City Road Race (5km run) 9 August - London Triathlon (750m swim/20km bike/5km run) 14 September - London Duathlon (10km run/20km ride/5km run) (if my place is confirmed) If you want to come along to any of the events to support in person, please let me know! Donations I hope you agree that these charities are two very worthwhile causes. If you would like to support my efforts this summer then please, please sponsor me. It is not possible to use one justgiving.com webpage to raise money for two charities. Therefore, if you would like to make a donation to NASS, please use this webpage. If you would like to make a donation to Leukaemia Research, then please go to my other justgiving webpage at: http://www.justgiving.com/ulrichpayne3 Of course, if you want to donate to both, that would be GREAT!! So please dig deep and sponsor me now. I have already paid the entry fees to all of these events, so the money you donate will go to the charities only and not the event organisers. Anything and everything makes a difference. Thanks for all your support! Ulrich
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