Louise Tidbury
Louise's page
Fundraising for Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex
Story
Ok folks
here we go!!!!!!!!
Well, it’s a brand new year, and while most of you are cheating on your resolutions, I am turning my focus to the year ahead, and one challenge in particular.
Last year, I had the crazy idea of entering the London Marathon. I had always said I wanted to do it before I was 30, so I thought...'I’ll apply, then when I don’t get in at least I can say I tried'....so I applied....and got in! Cue months and months of training in every type of weather....rain, hail, snow...everything but really extreme heat. Imagine my delight then when the day of the Marathon dawned bright and sunny!!! That is, until mile 19 when I got heat exhaustion. fab.
I had never run that distance before, so my only goal was to complete it, and still preferably be in one piece at the end of it. This, at least, I managed. I stumbled across the finish line in more agony that I have ever been in, I think I hit 'the wall' at mile 19 (that, for all of you non-runners is where your body basically slaps you round the face and asks you what they hell you are doing to it, and then shuts down to punish you. Apparently if you push through it, you are basically slapping it back and telling it to get off its backside and work because otherwise you’re going to keep on anyway and it will probably come off better if it co-operates. This normally forces it to slowly come back into gear and after a while you find the proverbial 'second wind' and are off again). The only problem is, my wall seemed more akin to the Great Wall of China than a simple plasterboard effort the like of which my house sports.
When I collapsed into the arms of my cheerleading team (Vince) and then melted to the floor I vowed absolutely, unequivocally, to NEVER....EVER....EVER....EVER run again. Not even for pleasure...or fitness....or a bus.
The following morning at 9am, I was possessed by demons and while I do not have any memory of this time, it seems they went online as soon as the ballot opened, and re-entered me. Evil little wotsits. :-D
So, the moral of this story???? There isn’t one. The point??? Well, now that bit is simple...
I need your help and support.
This is where I get serious. (so pay attention, it doesn’t happen often
Last year, I was overwhelmed by the support and generosity of all of my friends and family, and even on some instances, mere acquaintances. Having a ballot place means that you are under no obligation to raise money for a charity. However, I strongly believe that if I am going to do something which is, ultimately, a very difficult thing to do; which takes a heck of a lot of hard work, determination and dedication, I am going to make sure that someone benefits from it other than just me. I therefore chose to represent the Kent Air Ambulance. The reason for this was personal; they saved the life of a friend of mine, but also because they, unlike some charities, get NO Government funding. They also only have a small number of people running for them; unlike some of the larger charities who have hundreds of people running...all with proviso's that they have to raise a minimum amount in the thousands. Kent is a large place, and the number of lives that the Air Ambulance has saved is huge in respect of this.
Put it like this. Those of you that live in Kent are very likely to have had personal experience of the service the Air Ambulance provides. If you do not, have a think because I bet you know someone else who has. Then think about how different your life would be if the KAA wasn’t around....for those of you who don't live in Kent, do you know someone who does? Well, again, you probably know someone who has had reason to thank these amazing people for their help. it is like the ripple effect (no, not the chocolate kind...) one small act touches so many people’s lives, which then effects how they are with others, and so on and so on. And yes despite all of the wonderful work they do, the Kent Air Ambulance has been threatened with closure on more than one occasion. This would be disastrous. Just look at how many have been helped this year alone in the snow...when nobody else could get to people, they could.
Last year you helped raise £500 towards the running costs for the KAA. That was simply amazing, and I want to say a massive massive thank you. I was humbled by your generosity and I am being completely honest when I tell you that it was this alone which got me through some of my worst training days, and those last 7 miles on the day. Knowing I was representing so many people’s kindness was enough for me to focus and just keep going.
This year, I am going to TRY and do something even more amazing, or should I say, I am going to ask for help to do it....I would like to raise £800. It costs 1.7m per year to run the Air Ambulance so this is only a small percentage, but it is enough to pay for one piece of crucial equipment for within the helicopter such as a fixed stretcher and attachments along with a fully equipped first aid box with essential supplies.
So now I ask you....will you help me? I figure that if everyone I know sponsors me even a small amount, it is like the marathon itself...it may only be one small footstep...but enough of them and you reach the finish line. So if you are someone who buys themselves a coffee on the way to work or at lunchtime...could you go without this for a day, or a week and take a flask to work instead...if you buy sandwiches....could you make your own for a few days?? There are lots of ways to save a few pennies...and maybe, just maybe, you could donate those few pennies to a charity which ultimately won’t give you a caffeine boost, or satisfy your hunger, but they may just save your life, or that of someone you love, without who your life wouldn’t be the same.
Thank you for all of your support, both last year and this. Words don’t exist to tell you what it means.
Louise xxxxx On a separate and more personal note, I would like to take this chance to say thank you to one very special person who was there for the entire race last year. My boyfriend Vince tracked me and managed to be there at 4 different places to support me, encourage me, and catch me at the end. I couldn’t have done it without him and he deserves recognition because the completion of the race last year belongs in part to him. He is also running this year and I wish him all the luck in the world. So to Vince 'Thank you for last year and good luck for this year. I am proud of you and lucky to have you.' xx
Well, it’s a brand new year, and while most of you are cheating on your resolutions, I am turning my focus to the year ahead, and one challenge in particular.
Last year, I had the crazy idea of entering the London Marathon. I had always said I wanted to do it before I was 30, so I thought...'I’ll apply, then when I don’t get in at least I can say I tried'....so I applied....and got in! Cue months and months of training in every type of weather....rain, hail, snow...everything but really extreme heat. Imagine my delight then when the day of the Marathon dawned bright and sunny!!! That is, until mile 19 when I got heat exhaustion. fab.
I had never run that distance before, so my only goal was to complete it, and still preferably be in one piece at the end of it. This, at least, I managed. I stumbled across the finish line in more agony that I have ever been in, I think I hit 'the wall' at mile 19 (that, for all of you non-runners is where your body basically slaps you round the face and asks you what they hell you are doing to it, and then shuts down to punish you. Apparently if you push through it, you are basically slapping it back and telling it to get off its backside and work because otherwise you’re going to keep on anyway and it will probably come off better if it co-operates. This normally forces it to slowly come back into gear and after a while you find the proverbial 'second wind' and are off again). The only problem is, my wall seemed more akin to the Great Wall of China than a simple plasterboard effort the like of which my house sports.
When I collapsed into the arms of my cheerleading team (Vince) and then melted to the floor I vowed absolutely, unequivocally, to NEVER....EVER....EVER....EVER run again. Not even for pleasure...or fitness....or a bus.
The following morning at 9am, I was possessed by demons and while I do not have any memory of this time, it seems they went online as soon as the ballot opened, and re-entered me. Evil little wotsits. :-D
So, the moral of this story???? There isn’t one. The point??? Well, now that bit is simple...
I need your help and support.
This is where I get serious. (so pay attention, it doesn’t happen often
Last year, I was overwhelmed by the support and generosity of all of my friends and family, and even on some instances, mere acquaintances. Having a ballot place means that you are under no obligation to raise money for a charity. However, I strongly believe that if I am going to do something which is, ultimately, a very difficult thing to do; which takes a heck of a lot of hard work, determination and dedication, I am going to make sure that someone benefits from it other than just me. I therefore chose to represent the Kent Air Ambulance. The reason for this was personal; they saved the life of a friend of mine, but also because they, unlike some charities, get NO Government funding. They also only have a small number of people running for them; unlike some of the larger charities who have hundreds of people running...all with proviso's that they have to raise a minimum amount in the thousands. Kent is a large place, and the number of lives that the Air Ambulance has saved is huge in respect of this.
Put it like this. Those of you that live in Kent are very likely to have had personal experience of the service the Air Ambulance provides. If you do not, have a think because I bet you know someone else who has. Then think about how different your life would be if the KAA wasn’t around....for those of you who don't live in Kent, do you know someone who does? Well, again, you probably know someone who has had reason to thank these amazing people for their help. it is like the ripple effect (no, not the chocolate kind...) one small act touches so many people’s lives, which then effects how they are with others, and so on and so on. And yes despite all of the wonderful work they do, the Kent Air Ambulance has been threatened with closure on more than one occasion. This would be disastrous. Just look at how many have been helped this year alone in the snow...when nobody else could get to people, they could.
Last year you helped raise £500 towards the running costs for the KAA. That was simply amazing, and I want to say a massive massive thank you. I was humbled by your generosity and I am being completely honest when I tell you that it was this alone which got me through some of my worst training days, and those last 7 miles on the day. Knowing I was representing so many people’s kindness was enough for me to focus and just keep going.
This year, I am going to TRY and do something even more amazing, or should I say, I am going to ask for help to do it....I would like to raise £800. It costs 1.7m per year to run the Air Ambulance so this is only a small percentage, but it is enough to pay for one piece of crucial equipment for within the helicopter such as a fixed stretcher and attachments along with a fully equipped first aid box with essential supplies.
So now I ask you....will you help me? I figure that if everyone I know sponsors me even a small amount, it is like the marathon itself...it may only be one small footstep...but enough of them and you reach the finish line. So if you are someone who buys themselves a coffee on the way to work or at lunchtime...could you go without this for a day, or a week and take a flask to work instead...if you buy sandwiches....could you make your own for a few days?? There are lots of ways to save a few pennies...and maybe, just maybe, you could donate those few pennies to a charity which ultimately won’t give you a caffeine boost, or satisfy your hunger, but they may just save your life, or that of someone you love, without who your life wouldn’t be the same.
Thank you for all of your support, both last year and this. Words don’t exist to tell you what it means.
Louise xxxxx On a separate and more personal note, I would like to take this chance to say thank you to one very special person who was there for the entire race last year. My boyfriend Vince tracked me and managed to be there at 4 different places to support me, encourage me, and catch me at the end. I couldn’t have done it without him and he deserves recognition because the completion of the race last year belongs in part to him. He is also running this year and I wish him all the luck in the world. So to Vince 'Thank you for last year and good luck for this year. I am proud of you and lucky to have you.' xx