Matthew Ponsonby
Matthew's Otillo Swim Run
Fundraising for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
Story
I have, in a rash moment, entered for the above event (http://otilloswimrun.com/races/uto/swimrun). As the name suggests it combines a bit of distance swimming (which I promised myself not to do again) with a trail run (which I neither enjoy nor am any good at), together totalling some 43Km. To add complexity, we have to run in our wetsuits and swim in our running shoes which has led to much investment in kit. In order to make some sense of this event, I am intending to try and raise money for the best cause I know, Great Ormond Street.
The hospital is very focused on both the excellence of its care and the quality of the support it gives to its young parients. Should we be able to raise £10,000, it would enable 800 young patients, siblings and families to have their spirits lifted at Great Ormond Street’s incredible Christmas party - despite patients facing the greatest challenges a child can face, being sick does not have to mean being sad. In addition, another £10,000 would enable a researcher at Great Ormond Street to carry out a study which has the potential to improve the treatment of children with hard-to-treat leukaemia. Although modern medicine has revolutionised the treatment of leukaemia, a third of all cancer deaths in children are still caused by the disease.
Many thanks in advance
Matthew
I wanted to thank you all for your support and let you know that we (my team mate Giles and I) managed to complete the 2017 Otillo World Series Uto course well inside the cut off time and without any chaffing. It was an interesting course, mostly rock and steep trail running with a contrasting 25 degrees in the sun and water down to 7/8 degrees. Having been slightly intimidated by the physical form (somewhere between a Viking movie set and the end of a Diet Coke ad) and callow age (we were the oldest team in aggregate age) of the competition, we were happy with a place of 171 in 6hrs 49min (70 odd teams failed to finish). An amazing event set in a Nature reserve with instant disqualification for any litter dropped on the course. Running tied to someone who is a bit deaf at the best of times, but much more so when wearing earplugs and two swim hats, tested Giles’ patience to the limit I suspect.
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