Us in a Bus

Us in a Bus do extraordinary work supporting individuals with PMLD and share their knowledge of intensive interaction with others so more people can benefit.

Me and Us in a Bus:

The Sensory Projects www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk came about as a result of a small Kickstarter campaign. Us in a Bus kindly backed the original project. Their faith in me, and the faith of the other backers, has enabled me to do the work I do today. I am forever grateful and I owe them one!

Me and running:

I grew up on a boat. I am at home in water. I like swimming. I'm a qualified swimming teacher.

My running is much like a splashy front crawl, a lot of effort is put in for very little gain.

In 2012 I was running regularly. I can't say I ever enjoyed it, but I was very proud of myself for getting out there and doing it.

Then something wonderful happened: I got pregnant. Running with a bump did not work for me, although for a while I tried.I assumed I would run again when the baby was born, but I learned babies don't move very fast, neither do toddlers and running with prams is just a bit too cumbersome, especially on narrow Cornish roads where being able to hop into the hedge is essential to survival. And although babysitting is available using it for sleep was essential.

So I put running aside.

In 2015 I became an Ambassador for Parallel London and in the run up to their 2016 and 2017 events part of my role was to encourage people with profound disabilities to take part in a sporting event.

The hypocrisy of being able bodied myself, but claiming to not be able to run, was not lost on me! Then I saw Us in a Bus needed people to run a marathon for them. - This is how I got myself into this mess!

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Update: 

Originally I was training for the 2017 marathon, but I injured myself and had to take 4 months out doing physio. I had got up to running 16 miles when the injury happened.

Now I am running again, at present I can do 4 miles slowly - it is not looking hopeful for the marathon, but I'm going to try.

Motivation

 I have no idea how on earth I will get around the whole route. But I will try, and if I'm going to try such a feat of personal endurance then I'm going to need better motivation than fitting into old jeans... (feel free to badger me on twitter @jo3grace you'll find Us in a Bus there too @UsInABus and @ParallelLondon )

Better motivation:

Noah Drake was a very bright and engaging young man. He would have absolutely loved to have a conversation in Us in a Bus's bus. Sadly Noah died this year, joining his brother Aiden, and leaving his mother and father and pet dog behind. If his family can keep going without him, then surely I can keep putting one foot in front of another?

Us in a Bus enrich the lives of people with profound disabilities every day. Their work is worth every penny of your donation and every penny will go to them.

Thank you for backing me.