Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated and helped me raise over £1100 for Sands. Joanna and Neil were very touched by the fact that I decided to raise money for this charity which means so much to them, and others who have also experienced the horror of being in their shoes. I never imagined that I would raise so much but it just shows how kind and generous people are.  

The triathlon started as we all lined up between a buoy and a canoe and then the horn sounded, signalling the start of a swim twice around a 750m course in lake Coniston. I wasn't anywhere near first out of the Lake!

The swim was then followed by a 40km bike ride. I suffered cramp after 8 miles and had to get off for a couple of minutes but recovered enough to carry on and soon got into the swing of things! I overtook a couple of people on what we now call 'Death Hill' - a three mile incline with lots of bends. Every time I got around one I was faced with yet another!! Anyway, I finished the bike section in 1hr 50 mins and then it was time for the run! 

It was a six mile run along some nice paths to a turning point at 3 miles. For the last half a mile to the turning point it was all up a steep hill. Although there was certainly the temptation to walk (nobody would see me, would they?!) I really didn't want to stop. I was kept going when someone told me, "You can see the turning point around the next corner." I even overtook another couple of people and finished the run in 52 minutes.

I aimed for 4 hours and finished in 3hr 25 mins so, all in all, a great first attempt and a time I will definitely beat next year!

 

A huge thank you again to all who donated.

...I would like to raise awareness of, and money for, a charity very close to the hearts of me and my friends - Sands.

About the Charity I am raising money for: Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, is an organisation that offers support when a baby dies during pregnancy or after birth.

Sands, was founded in 1978 by a small group of bereaved parents devastated by the death of their babies and in particular by what they felt was a complete lack of acknowledgement and understanding of the significance and impact of their loss.

Over the past 25 years the charity has supported many thousands of families whose babies have died, offering emotional support, comfort and practical help. Sands has worked tirelessly with health professionals to revolutionise the care bereaved families receive in hospital. Sands has fundamentally changed the way in which bereaved parents and their babies are cared for

Why Sands is so relevant: Incredibly in the UK today, in spite of medical advances, many parents, their families and friends continue to have their lives quite literally turned upside down by the death of their baby.  17 babies a day are either stillborn or die within the first twenty eight days of life, over 6,500 babies dying every year.  Rates of stillbirth have remained relatively unchanged for 20 years and in fact are increasing.

Sands core aims are to:

support anyone affected by the death of a baby;

work with health professionals to improve the quality of care and services provided to bereaved parents and their families;

and promote changes in antenatal practice and to fund research that could help to reduce the loss of babies' lives and the number of families devastated by this tragedy.

With your support we can really make a difference.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Sands 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.

So please sponsor me now and thank you for your support!

David

 

 

 

 



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 As most of you will know, I am taking part in my first triathlon on the 4th June 2011, in Coniston. This consists of a 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and to finish it (and me!) off, a 10km run! This is the first time I have done anything like this and have never really been into swimming, running or cycling, so why on earth am I doing it??!!...