14/04/2004 (the day after...):

Thank you for all your support, it was the main thing that kept me going in the final miles of the marathon and I'm so pleased that we have raised so much money fo the NICU.

I finished in 3:16:40 so just missed my target, but still a personal best. It was a great day and a great experience, I've never seen so many people and the course was lined from start to finish. Starting off very fast I had completed the half-marathon stage in 1hr30, but I couldn't sustain the pace much past 20 miles. The last 6 miles was a killer, but I dug deep and carried on as fast as possible (just being pipped to the post by Scooby-Doo!!!). So now I can sit back, rest for a while and reflect upon the whole experience. I'll be seeing Nathan so that he can pose with my medal and I'd like to send Lex, Jan and the family all my best wishes.

Damian

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Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online as your money really will make a difference.

A close friend of ours recently gave birth to a beautiful tiny baby boy, called Nathan on Tuesday 29th January at St. Mary's Hospital Portsmouth. Nathan arrived weighing in at a wee 493g which is around 1 lb 1 oz.  He was born at only 23+5 weeks in gestation so was 17 weeks (4 months) early.  He then was taken straight to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the hospital where they luckily had space.

Nathan is now over two months old but is still a poorly chap needing intensive care and will be for some months. The unit that I am raising money for will help provide equipment and services that will help keep Nathan (and others like him) alive and eventually well enough to go home with their families where they belong.

Without the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nathan may not be alive and fighting as he is today.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Portsmouth Hospitals Nhs Trust General Charitable Fund will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.

11/04/08

Thanks everyone for being so brilliantly generous! We're bowled over and I know that Lex, Jan, Dom and Nathan are too. Just to say, look out for Damian if you're watching the race live or on BBC - his race number is 7460 and he should be over the finish between 1 and 1:15pm (3hrs 15 is the target. Petersfield Post seemed to have mistaken him for Paula Radcliffe).