This coming May I will complete a 'deconstruted' ironman in aid of Ronald McDonald House Charities.

May 1st - Swim 2.4 miles

May 4th - Cycle 112 miles

May 26th - Run 26.2 miles in the Edinburgh Marathon.

Why?

In May of 2023, our son Theodore was born at Leighton Hospital, Cheshire. Theo was born with HIE, he was exceptionally unwell and put on life support and a hypothermic cooling mat as soon as he entered this world.

Despite the excellent care available at Leighton, Theo required specialist care to be given the best chance of survival, and as a result, he was transferred to Arrowe Park NICU on the Wirral.

Theo spent a week sedated, three more in NICU, and a further three in high dependency before coming home. He has Cerebral Palsy, and epilepsy and has had extended stays in 5 hospitals, across 3 counties, all within the first 4 months of life.

Theo is a little miracle. He has a long journey ahead but is amazing all his medical practicioners and we couldn't be prouder of his progress.

So, given the above, why have I chosen to raise money for Ronald McDonald with all of the relevant medical charities I could find that relate to our story?

In your darkest moments when you are a parent of a sick child, it is near impossible for your brain to function. You feel incredibly isolated and vulnerable, the smallest task feels like a marathon to complete. For us, this is where RM provided incomparable support.

Ronald McDonald House Charities UK provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with children having treatment in hospital. Their houses offer much more than just a place to stay; they provide family activities, peer support, respite, and many other services, meaning that families can be by their child’s bedside in a matter of moments, whilst maintaining a degree of normal life with reduced emotional and financial strain.

Rochelle, my wife, and I stayed together, mere meters from Theo's bed, with a direct line to the nurses watching over him when we were unable to physically be there.

We shared our kitchen and our stories with the other parents equally watching over their children, and our daughter Bella was able to visit, play with toys, see her brother, and retain some form of normality, all whilst being so far away from home and any sense of normal life.

Ronald McDonald supports over 6,000 families like ours each year to be with their children and now, more than ever, they need your support.

In homage to Ronald McDonald making those daily "marathons" feel achievable, I felt compelled to return the favour by running one, or completing 3 physical marathons for them.

Any support you're able to give will motivate me through the combination of training miles, early morning swims, sleepless nights, icebaths and teething tantrums.

Aidan (and Theo) x