My 2020 & 2021 Full & Half Marathon Challenges
Nicola Wiseman is raising money for NSPCC
Story
As a primary school teacher for 20 years and a SENCo (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) for the last 10 years, I have seen first hand the devastating affects that physical, mental, sexual and emotional abuse has on children. It robs children of their childhood, their innocence, their self-worth, their ability to learn and they can become trapped in a cycle of abuse. I want to see child abuse stopped. Every childhood is worth fighting for.
I am so blessed to have 3 beautiful children; Ella, Lily and Olly and know they have a lucky life. I want all children to grow up not knowing the evils of this world.
To raise money for this wonderful charity, I am taking on 6 half marathons throughout 2020 & 2021 (thanks to coronavirus and the races in 2020 being postponed or cancelled!) I have secured places in the following races:
Sunday 16th February 2020- Barcelona Half Marathon - DONE
Sunday 4th October 2020 - Virtual London Marathon - DONE
Sunday 1st August 2021 - London Landmarks Half Marathon - DONE
Sunday 12th September 2021 - Great North Run - DONE
Sunday 3rd October 2021 - Virtual London Marathon - DONE
Sunday 10th October 2021 - Royal Parks Half Marathon - DONE
Sunday 24th October 2021 - Liverpool Rock n Roll Half Marathon - DONE
Sunday 14th November 2021 - Windmill Remembrance 10km - DONE
Again this challenge will not be easy with 3 children, working full time and having two heart conditions, but I am prepared to find the time to train properly and help make other children have a better future.
This mummy can, and this mummy will.
#finishlinesnotfinishtimes
#everychildhoodisworthfightingfor
Thank you so much for your continued support. It really does means the world to me. Together we can help keep more children safe. Every penny we raise will help protect children, prevent abuse and transform society so it's safer for all children.
Thank you,
Nicola xxxx
In case you haven’t read my story before, here is a summary!
In 2005, whilst recovering from a TIA (a minor stroke) I was diagnosed with a mitral valve prolapse in my heart. I had open heart surgery to repair the valve in 2006 (I was 28 years old). Despite initially being a success, the surgery has now failed and my heart is slowly deteriorating. I have also developed atrial fibrillation, which I take daily medication for to reduce my otherwise resting heart beat of 120bpm. Without the research from the British Heart Foundation, I would not have survived past the age of 28. Although I am not raising funds for the BHF this year, I am still extremely grateful and humbled for all their work in saving lives.
Inspired by friends to run a race and collect some bling, I started the C25K programme in May 2015 and 8 weeks later I was handed my first medal for completing the Race For Life in Blackpool. I was hooked - I loved running for medals! 5k races soon became 10k races and then 8 months later I completed my first half marathon. In April 2016, 11 months later, I completed the London Marathon raising £6,485.50 for the BHF.
In 2017, I went on to complete a 6-race challenge, including the Great North Run, the Royal Parks Half, the Great North West Half, the Manchester Marathon, Paris Marathon & the London Marathon 2017 - the marathons were run within 22 days of each other! I was also blessed to be awarded a BHF Heart Hero Award for Inspiration in July 2017.
2018 saw me turn 40 years old and I wanted another challenge! So, I signed up to 12 races within 12 months – 3 of which were half marathons. By the end of 2018, my total raised for the British Heart Foundation was £10,280.
Unfortunately, 2019 was not meant to be my year. At the end of 2018, I suffered a breakdown and was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. I stopped running - the pressure of training and racing was just too much, and I was signed off work for almost 6 months.
2020 (& 2021), is going to be my year! With the support of family, friends and colleagues (plus tablets and counselling!) I managed to get myself well again. During my time off sick, I was able to think about what was important to me. Apart from my family and friends, the children in my care and my running mean a great deal to me. So, this year, my 6 half-marathon challenge is to support my 2 passions: teaching/children and running as I raise funds for the NSPCC.
I am so grateful to the staff and children at my school, Kirkham St Michael's, who have agreed to take part in the NSPCC 20th Number Day on Friday 7th February to help me reach my fundraising target. As SENCo and Maths Lead, I can't think of a better way to fundraise!!
The NSPCC is the leading children's charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands. We help children who have been abused to rebuild their lives, protect those at risk, and find the best ways of preventing abuse from ever happening. Every child deserves the best possible chance to rebuild their life after abuse. That’s why we’re here. That's what drives all our work. And that’s why – as long as there’s abuse – we will fight for every childhood.
I am so blessed to have 3 beautiful children; Ella, Lily and Olly and know they have a lucky life. I want all children to grow up not knowing the evils of this world.
To raise money for this wonderful charity, I am taking on 6 half marathons throughout 2020 & 2021 (thanks to coronavirus and the races in 2020 being postponed or cancelled!) I have secured places in the following races:
Sunday 16th February 2020- Barcelona Half Marathon - DONE
Sunday 4th October 2020 - Virtual London Marathon - DONE
Sunday 1st August 2021 - London Landmarks Half Marathon - DONE
Sunday 12th September 2021 - Great North Run - DONE
Sunday 3rd October 2021 - Virtual London Marathon - DONE
Sunday 10th October 2021 - Royal Parks Half Marathon - DONE
Sunday 24th October 2021 - Liverpool Rock n Roll Half Marathon - DONE
Sunday 14th November 2021 - Windmill Remembrance 10km - DONE
Again this challenge will not be easy with 3 children, working full time and having two heart conditions, but I am prepared to find the time to train properly and help make other children have a better future.
This mummy can, and this mummy will.
#finishlinesnotfinishtimes
#everychildhoodisworthfightingfor
Thank you so much for your continued support. It really does means the world to me. Together we can help keep more children safe. Every penny we raise will help protect children, prevent abuse and transform society so it's safer for all children.
Thank you,
Nicola xxxx
In case you haven’t read my story before, here is a summary!
In 2005, whilst recovering from a TIA (a minor stroke) I was diagnosed with a mitral valve prolapse in my heart. I had open heart surgery to repair the valve in 2006 (I was 28 years old). Despite initially being a success, the surgery has now failed and my heart is slowly deteriorating. I have also developed atrial fibrillation, which I take daily medication for to reduce my otherwise resting heart beat of 120bpm. Without the research from the British Heart Foundation, I would not have survived past the age of 28. Although I am not raising funds for the BHF this year, I am still extremely grateful and humbled for all their work in saving lives.
Inspired by friends to run a race and collect some bling, I started the C25K programme in May 2015 and 8 weeks later I was handed my first medal for completing the Race For Life in Blackpool. I was hooked - I loved running for medals! 5k races soon became 10k races and then 8 months later I completed my first half marathon. In April 2016, 11 months later, I completed the London Marathon raising £6,485.50 for the BHF.
In 2017, I went on to complete a 6-race challenge, including the Great North Run, the Royal Parks Half, the Great North West Half, the Manchester Marathon, Paris Marathon & the London Marathon 2017 - the marathons were run within 22 days of each other! I was also blessed to be awarded a BHF Heart Hero Award for Inspiration in July 2017.
2018 saw me turn 40 years old and I wanted another challenge! So, I signed up to 12 races within 12 months – 3 of which were half marathons. By the end of 2018, my total raised for the British Heart Foundation was £10,280.
Unfortunately, 2019 was not meant to be my year. At the end of 2018, I suffered a breakdown and was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. I stopped running - the pressure of training and racing was just too much, and I was signed off work for almost 6 months.
2020 (& 2021), is going to be my year! With the support of family, friends and colleagues (plus tablets and counselling!) I managed to get myself well again. During my time off sick, I was able to think about what was important to me. Apart from my family and friends, the children in my care and my running mean a great deal to me. So, this year, my 6 half-marathon challenge is to support my 2 passions: teaching/children and running as I raise funds for the NSPCC.
I am so grateful to the staff and children at my school, Kirkham St Michael's, who have agreed to take part in the NSPCC 20th Number Day on Friday 7th February to help me reach my fundraising target. As SENCo and Maths Lead, I can't think of a better way to fundraise!!
The NSPCC is the leading children's charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands. We help children who have been abused to rebuild their lives, protect those at risk, and find the best ways of preventing abuse from ever happening. Every child deserves the best possible chance to rebuild their life after abuse. That’s why we’re here. That's what drives all our work. And that’s why – as long as there’s abuse – we will fight for every childhood.