Sandra Whitefield's page

Thank you visiting my Just Giving page .
My lovely husband Nigel and Daddy to Charles and Amy died peacefully in his sleep at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle on Saturday 1 March 2014 from a hospital acquired infection - swine flu - while recovering from a kidney transplant.
Nigel, heroically battled and managed his kidney condition with a sense of humour and a dignified manner and was an example to all.
He was extremely fit for his kidney condition - he ran, went to the gym, cycled and had planned to do the c2c. In his past he ran three marathons and was even a rugby referee.
Charles, Amy and I were and are very proud of him and would like something positive to come out of our tragic loss. So bearing in mind his love of sport (he was also a sport journalist - mainly athletics, rugby, football, boxing, tennis - and worked at 6 Olympics and NOT forgetting his love of Southampton Football Club and Hamphire Cricket), I thought I should get fit, stay fit and run a few races in 2014 & 2015 to celebrate his love of Life and Sport.
Nigel was a MASSIVE Southampton Fan and he was lucky enough to be at Wembley in 1976 when Saints won the FA Cup and he also covered their last match at the Dell as a member of the press.
Running these races for a great charity - Kidney Research UK - makes it more worthwhile. Nigel previously had a kidney transplant in 2000 and it changed our lives for the better and it worked for 10 wonderful years.
Nigel worked for Newcastle City Council (Comms) when he died and they have been very supportive. They even have an award in his name and it was presented earlier this year.
If you prefer to text then please text SANW99 £1, £2 or£5 to 70070
The amount I am hoping to raise is £1650.00 to celebrate 16 1/2 glorious years as Mrs Whitefield... I didn't reach the total in 2014 so I need to keep on racing in 2015. When I hit this total I have a new target of £2,200 which presents 22 years I knew Nigel. And if I reach that total the 3rd target is £5,200 which represents 52 years of Nigel's life.... so I will have to keep on running ...
2016
Only just restarted fitness campaign April 2016.. The races so far
Colourama 5km Run 4 June - Completed with Charles and Amy with lots of colour!
Blaydon Race 5.6 miles 9 June - Completed .. Really enjoyed this run & loved the ham sarnie and beer afterwards.
Mini Muddier Obstacle Fun Run, Maiden Castle - kids only - 19th June. Charles and Amy completed this run on Father'S Day. A wet and fun time!
Lambton Family 3km Run 26 June Completed. Fun time. Charles finished ahead of Amy and I. Fun dry time with only a little mud!
Durham City 10k - 20 July .a very very hilly run did it in 1 hr 9 mins ..
Durham wineathlon October .. hoping there is a good Shiraz enroute
GNR Junior Run - Charles and Amy
GNR - Sept
Still need to add more races for 2016!
2015
25 April 2015 - Southampton 10k ... Nigel's home town. Completed it in 1hr 4 mins.... training re-started 1 April 2015... I discovered I don't like winter running.
Blaydon Races - 9 June 2015 ... This will be interesting as I have developed asthma on 1 May 2015. Asthma I hope is now under control.....fingers crossed. Completed a little slow in 1hr (5.7 miles) but what a great atmosphere! Loved it!
Lambton Run 3km - 21 June 2015 it's a family affair. .Charles, Amy and I are running this race. Completed..
Gateshead trail 10k - 15 August 2015. Completed. Not in a great time but completed. 1hr 5 mins. Now need to run a little more for GNR.
GNR half Marathon - 13 Sept 2015. Charles and Amy have entered the Junior races and I am running the HM. Slower than last time but still loved it!
Kielder Half Marathon - 4 October 2015. Slowest time but wow what a scenic race!
If you prefer to text then please text SANW99 £1, £2 or£5 to 70070
2014 races were ...
1. the BUPA Great race on 13 July, I finished the race in 59:51 on a warm and wet morning with a few hills thrown in for good measures.
2. Gateshead Trail 16 August, I finished the race with a pb of 58.27 on a mild morning with a sneaky steep hill up and down! Medal serves as a bottle opener as well - Nigel would hae been impressed about the medal beer bottle opener!
3. GNR - UPDATE FAMILY RUNNING - Charles aged 9 and Amy aged 7 are running in the Junior and Mini GNR on 6 September and Daddy will be watching from Heaven.
GNR update - Charles ran the Junior 4km race in 27 mins. Amy ran the Mini Race 1.5k. Both of them had a great time on Saturday. I ran it in 2 hours and 17 mins on a hot sunny day.
4. Redcar Half Marathon 28 Sept finished in 2hrs 10mins.
5.kielder 19k 4 October - very hill and scenic route. Official time was 1hr 8 mins but I stopped to help a fellow runner with dehydration so time on map my run was 1hr 2 mins
Thank you for visiting my page.
A few tributes and stories of Nigel ..
Check out Day 70 of the 100 day Count down to the Olympics .... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9209465/London-2012-Olympics-daily-countdown-to-the-Games.html
Martin Gillingham remembers Nigel: http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/members-news/the-man-who-made-alfie-noakes-a-global-superstar/?fb_action_ids=536848616432672&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B259468744223950%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.likes%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D
Orginal article was in the Evening Chronicle: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Journalist's+death+sees+tributes+paid.-a0360885720
Once again thank you for visiting my JustGiving Page.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Sandra, Charles & Amy x o x o
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