Thanks for taking the time to read our story and why we are taking on the Coast 2 Coast Ultimate Challenge July 2021

Team Senna's Stompers consists of : Ashley Carter, Ciaran Bligh, Darri Simms, Dave Mabley, Harriet Watson & Jane Mabley. 

The challenge itself sounded pretty easy.... 100km ( 62 miles ) I mean after all that's only Bodmin to Exeter.  In a car on a good day, that's an hours drive. After signing up to the challenge I started looking into the hell we were about to embark on. Burning between 10,000 - 12,000 calories, body trying to shut down, flu like symptoms, Toe nails disappearing, Blisters from hell. Not to mention what our muscles and joints will go through. There are marathon runners that find it harder to walk the 100km than run it. Im not sure our bodies are designed to walk for 24hrs straight. A 1/4 of people that enter FAIL!!!! The thought of entering something knowing its not a easy task or a dead cert you will do it, makes us more determined to complete it!

So Why are we doing this?

We lost Our little girl Senna back in 2017. She lived a short life but she will be loved and remembered forever. Senna had a rare condition that effects 1 in 40,000 new born babies. 

Loosing Senna was the lowest we have been as a family. Let me paint a picture for a second........... As soon as Senna was born she was taken away from us straight into a Neonatal ward. We were left in the delivery suite as parents upset and with a million and one questions. Being told Senna had to have a major operation and was going to Birmingham Children's hospital. Asking the Surgeon what her chances were? To get a reply of 50 / 50. After 10 hrs of surgery getting the phone call to say come to the hospital as Senna is returning to the ICU ward and we could see her and that the operation was a success. We sat in the waiting room as a family clinking our cups of tea together celebrating that the operation was a success, not knowing this whole time Senna had gone into cardiac arrest and CPR was being administrated. Hearing your wife beg the CPR team to stop. That she knew Senna had, had enough, please stop. Hearing the flatline of the machines.  Imagine holding your baby after all that for the first time but she's cold. That your first kiss to her, was also your last. These are all things I hope no family would ever have to go through, but we did!!!!

We tried turning this massive low into doing something positive. So we raised money for the charities that helped us when we needed them the most. We will never know why Senna was taken from us so early and it's a question we will ask forever. But what we do know is we will do our best to help others that were in the same situation as us.

At Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham we have a room that is named after our little girl. We Sponsored the room for families who have ill children and find themselves in the same situation that we did. In a city with a poorly child and nowhere to stay. Unfortunately the donation we made last time is coming to an end and as a family its so nice knowing our Senna's name is on a room at the Ronald McDonlad house. We would hate for this not to be the case.

I know last year and this year have been hard on most. I think doing a Challenge like this gives us something to aim towards. Having a goal and something to train for is great for the brain and great for mental health.

Any Donations will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Darri

What do Ronald McDonald House Charities do you might ask?

Ronald McDonald House Charities UK provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with children having treatment in hospital. Our Houses offer much more than just a place to stay; they provide family activities, peer support, restbite, and many other services. This means that families can be by their child’s bedside in a matter of moments, whilst maintaining a degree of normal life with reduced emotional and financial strain.We help over 6,000 families each year and now, more than ever, we need your support. Thank you.