Greg Michalski
Sponsored Run - 10K Balmoral Castle 2007
Fundraising for Brake, the road safety charity
Story
15th June 2007
In the last few days before this web page expires I would like to thank everyone one last time for your donations and personal encouragement. Please take a moment out on 7th December each year to remember Alex.
All the best, Greg
Saturday 28th April 2007
It’s not all about the Run.
Today, Saturday 28th April was a special day. A glorious day! A day when 100’s of runners in their various coloured vests, ‘T’ shirts and some even in kilts gathered to take part in the Balmoral series of road races. Some were serious athletes attempting to win their respective events in the fastest times possible, others were there for the fun, the challenge or to raise money for a multitude of worthwhile causes. Each participant had their own reasons and stories for being there on this special day.
The runners were enthusiastically and loudly supported by family, friends, colleagues and most notably by each other; a common understanding amongst those with a common objective – to finish the event in one piece! Young and old stood side by side to cheer on those multi-coloured individuals, who were striving to get round their respective courses in the best times they could; whether it was the 1.5 or 2.5 KM junior events, the 5.0 KM senior event or the 10 KM main event. There was also the Rollerski Challenge for those wanting to do it in wheels! With over 2,500 participants and an equal number of boisterous spectators it was an inspirational day.
The setting was glorious. Balmoral Castle is just 50 miles west of Aberdeen set in the rolling countryside of Royal Deeside and is the entry point to the Scottish highlands. Holiday home to the Queen and other members of the Royal Family it was the perfect venue for a fun filled day for all participants and spectators alike. For the serious athletes competing in the Scottish Athletics Navy Blue Grand Prix series of events the undulating course represented a considerable challenge in order to put them in contention for the £1,000 first prize later in the year. For others it was a fun run, a chance to test old limbs, an opportunity to see if they could still “go the distance”, to meet like minded people, a day out or a day to represent lots and lots of good causes. It was a unique and special day.
Everyone had a reason for being at Balmoral on this day. For me it was primarily and overwhelmingly a day to remember Alex Michalski – my son and friend – who so was so tragically killed as a passenger in a car accident on the South Deeside Road in December last year. At just 17 years of age his life was but a short one. He did, however, achieve a tremendous amount in those seventeen years. He was healthy, always active, extremely fit and enjoyed nothing more than entering into some banter with his friends. He’d passed all his standard grades with flying colours, had obtained five higher grades in his fifth year and when he’d completed his sixth year was destined to go to university to study mathematics. Surrounded by so many people in a glorious setting was the perfect way to reflect on all those wonderful family memories we have of Alex throughout his life. The 10K run passed all the more quickly because of these special, treasured memories.
The day was also about reflecting on the unselfish and generous support so freely provided by all family, friends and colleagues in support of my endeavours. The last few months have been a testing time. Life will never be quite the same without Alex, but for sure everyone’s support has made the journey along the dark road since December just that much more bearable.
To think that so many people have sponsored me in this event is truly overwhelming. It shows that in the face of such tragedy people can respond so positively and with real compassion. I still remain in awe at how kind and considerate everyone has been. Nothing has been too much trouble for anyone; so many people wanting so desperately to help in some way. I will always be eternally grateful for that support. There are too many people to thank individually, but each of you knows who you are and you should all be proud of yourselves for your help and kindness. In these troubled times when so much of the media is filled with so many tragic stories it does help to restore my faith in human nature that so many people can be so warm and caring. We are privileged to live in such a wonderful community and in such a lovely part of the world.
I offer my thanks to the organisers of the Balmoral event and for all those that worked so tirelessly to make the day such an overwhelming success. Thanks also to Ali and Neil Cousland - dear family friends - who also ran the 10K event in tribute to Alex.
The decision to enter the Balmoral run was for me in some ways a selfish undertaking, an opportunity to focus on something positive, a way motivating myself to continue to exercise, a means of helping two worthwhile charities and a way of coming to terms with something that no one ever wants to happen.
To be part of the Balmoral 10K race was a fantastic experience; a really inspirational feeling that so many people were taking part for such good causes, that a genuine warmth was exuded by the crowd and that so many family, friends and colleagues were providing so much support and encouragement. Despite the relatively good preparation the run was still quite testing, but overall great fun! The notorious hill after 4.5 KM - with two Scots Pipers at the top offering whatever encouragement they could from those distinctive musical notes - provided a real challenge to even the elite athletes let alone the recreational runner. The scenery was spectacular, the camaraderie between the runners was magnificent and the finishing line the most welcome of all sights!
For anyone that took part in the event I hope that you equally enjoyed the experience. For those that watched and wished they had taken part - there is always next year and for those that were just pleased that they came along to watch - many thanks for your amazing encouragement – it made all the difference.
One of the reasons for entering the Balmoral run was to raise much needed funds for two charities – BRAKE, the road safety charity and the Help TAFO Trust, who are working to assist pupils in a rural part of Ghana to receive a better education. Thanks to everyone’s generous support we have managed to raise in excess of £3,500 for both these charities. Hopefully when all contributions have come in the amount may be even higher than this. Please accept my sincere thanks to all who sponsored me in this event. The amount raised has far exceeded my wildest dreams. Special thanks go to SAIC for their support, encouragement and significant donation.
For those statisticians amongst you my time for the run was 46 minutes 47 seconds; the equivalent of a three and a half hour marathon and finishing 259th out of around 1,800 athletes. The winning time – the fastest ever recorded at the event – was 31 minutes. This may not be my last 10K run - you may see me at other events during the year, but this was by far the most special of days; a day to remember Alex.
If I could change that fateful night in December I would gladly run a million miles!
Greg Michalski – Recovering!!
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.
As you may be aware my son - Alex Michalski - tragically lost his life as a passenger in a car that was involved in a traffic accident on the South Deeside road in Aberdeenshire on Thursday 7th December 2006. He was just 17 years of age.
Alex was a talented young man. He had already secured unconditional offers at several Scottish Universities to study mathematics and was an excellent athlete, competing at national level in swimming and holding three Scottish age group championships. Alex was also privileged to have so many good friends in and around Banchory. We are rightly proud of all that he did and achieved.
At his thanksgiving service in Banchory an astonishing £2,600 was raised through the kind donations of many people; £1,800 was forwarded to BRAKE - the road safety charity and the remaining £800 to the Help TAFO Trust to help local children in an isolated part of Ghana to receive a better education.
BRAKE is actively involved in all aspects of road safety, campaigning tirelessly to make our roads safer and providing support to bereaved families. The following statistics make disturbing reading: 7 out of 10 car accidents in the UK happen on rural roads and don’t involve another vehicle. 1 in 200 people involved in a road accident will loose their lives. On average around 3,000 people are killed every year on our roads; another 35,000 are seriously injured. The 17 – 24 age group are the most vulnerable. Males are three times more likely to be killed than females. Car passengers are equally at risk.
As a student at Banchory Academy , Alex was actively involved with fundraising for the Help TAFO Trust. The school has already made a significant contribution to the pupils in Ghana . The £800 donated at the church service in December is currently helping to build a secondary school classroom at the Juliet Johnson School . When complete this will be dedicated to Alex.
Since that fateful day in December we have been thinking of ways to continue to help to support the above two charities. To this end I will be taking part in this year’s Stena Drilling Tartan 10K run at Balmoral Castle on Saturday 28th April and would be pleased if anyone would consider sponsoring me at this event. All monies raised will, once again, be given to BRAKE and the Help TAFO Trust. By continuing to support BRAKE it is hoped that our roads become a little safer and that the needless loss of another young life may be prevented. For the children of Ghana a small amount of money can make a major difference to their education; around £800 will provide a pupil with a scholarship throughout their years at primary or secondary school.
All donations made through this site will be specifically given to BRAKE. Any other donations in cash or by cheque will be divided between BRAKE and the Help TAFO Trust
Thank you for taking time to read this fundraising page. I know that we all contribute to a number of charities as often as we can, but hope that you will consider sponsoring me in my endeavours on the 28th April in order to help these two very worthwhile charities and in memory of Alex.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate: Brake, the road safety charity will receive your money electronically and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in Gift Aid will be added to your donation at no cost to you.
Every donation, not matter how small or large, can make a big difference.
Many thanks for your support.
Take care!
Greg Michalski
26 April 2007 - Good luck to everyone taking part on Saturday and thanks for all your good wishes.
17 April 2007 - The Big Day is nearly upon us. We all hope that the weather stays fine on the day. Press reports suggest that 1,500 athletes have entered the 10K run so far. For all those that have entered - good luck! For those that haven't - there's still time !!
27 March 2007 - Today we reached a fantastic milestone by surpassing the fundraising target of £1,000 that was set when I set out on this venture. I find it hard to believe that we have collectively reached this target so quickly with just over four weeks to go until the run itself.
So far we have managed to raise £1,011.00 for Brake, the road safety charity. Thank you so much to everyone that has made this happen! It goes without saying that every single contribution has been gratefully received. A special thank you must go to Thomas Williams for pushing the total beyond the £1,000 mark on this Tuesday 27th March, 2007.
The fundraising continues for the next few weeks, but my priority now is to concentrate on the training so that I can represent you all to the best of my abilities at Balmoral in memory of Alex and in recognition of your outstanding support.
Many thanks to each and every one of you.
23 March 2007 - We are now within £100 of the intitial target! Absolutely brilliant! Well done to each and everyone of you for making this happen. It's great to know that there are so many kind and considerate people around. Alex would have been speechless. Everyone should be so proud of what has been achieved. Well done to all!
10 March 2007 - A big thank you to everyone who has visited this web page so far. The training is going well and I'm very much looking forward to this special day in April. I just hope that I can do justice to all the support evryone is providing!