Dear all,

On the 29^th February 2016 two brothers of the Sandberg family (one of which works in R&L) will be competing in the oldest, longest and biggest cross-country ski race in the world to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, one of the world’s leading hospitals for children, just as we did on the 8th of March 2015. Last year was the warmest
and thus slowest, year on record. It took us 11 hours. It was awful. This year is projected to be colder and snowyer and generally better.

The brave members of the family who will take on this challenge are me (Henning) and my eight year younger brother Martin, as well as Thomas (dad) and the rest of the family (in absentia), and, indeed, the world.

In order for you to be able to follow our preparations and race we have set up an Instagram profile: VasaloppetforGOSH (please click). There is already an impressive number of pictures on there, including of us looking cool on roller skis (topless), updates on the training (topless), images from pre-race preparations (topless) and the race itself, as well as some general pictures of us topless.

The race that we will be competing in is called Vasaloppet. It’s a 90km (56 miles) cross-country ski race in the classic style between Sälen and Mora in the centre of Sweden. The classic style means that no skating is allowed, and the skis are set in two parallel snow grooves along the course (which you are allowed to step out of if you keep the style). Speed is gathered by using poles and by kicking back with your legs to gain momentum. It’s been held since 1922 and around 15,000 people will take part in this year’s race.

GOSH treats over 240,000 children every year and, together with the UCL Institute of Child Health, forms the UK’sonly academic biomedical research centre specialising in paediatrics. It’s an institution and a cause that we feel strongly about, me having spent time in hospital as a young child, and Martin currently studying to become a doctor at the University of Lund, southern Sweden.

If you only donate to one pair ofbrothers doing a cross-country ski race this year, make it this one.  Thanks!

A brief, not entirely accurate, history of Vasaloppet

It’s a race commemorating the resistance against the Danish led by Gustav Vasa, the first King of modern Sweden.In 1520, Kristian II of Denmark, known as Kristian the Tyrant in Sweden and Kristian the Really Lovely and Nice Guy in Denmark, had just snaked his way to the Swedish throne by acting all lovely and nice, and by killing loads of people and sieging Stockholm. Once crowned king he invited all of the other prominent politicians and noblemen, including his political opponents Sturarna, to his coronation, labelled as a reconciliation party, in Stockholm to celebrate.However, at the party he showed his true self and executed his political opponents and their servants (around 80 people in total) at the main square in Stockholm – known as the Stockholm Blood Bath. What a prick.

Luckily, a guy called Gustav Eriksson, only 24 years old at the time, knew about all of this. He tried to warn his influential friends, such as Joakim Brahe, a member of the royal court and a Sturarna sympathiser, not to go to Stockholm for the coronation, but did he listen? He did not. Was he executed? Yes he was. The Danes knew that Gustav Eriksson was trying to rally up support against the king and sought him everywhere. Gustav,disguised as a farmer, traveled north in Sweden, telling people about the bloodbath in Stockholm and trying to convince people to rise up against the king, unsuccessfully.

When arriving in Mora he pleaded with them to remember their historic support for the Sturarna and against the Danes,but they hesitate, not believing that Kristian could be as big a bastard as he turned out to be. Disappointed and disheartened, Gustav leaves for Sälen on skis. Only hours later, a large number of Danish soldiers arrive in Mora. With the arrival of two Swedish messengers the city hears about the events in Stockholm,verifying Gustav’s story, and they realise he was right all along. They send their two fastest cross country skiers after him to bring him back to Mora to lead them in the uprising against the Danes.

Glossing over a three-year, bloody civil war with 1,000s of dead and displaced, the forces of Gustav Eriksson won and he was crowned Gustav I Vasa of Sweden in 1523. He quickly introduced free health care and education and founded IKEA and all Swedes lived happily ever after.

The End. 

JustGiving

Every donation helps Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity to provide the best facilities and equipment, research and develop new treatments, and support their remarkable patients and their families.

Donating through JustGiving is simple,fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it's the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.