Dear all, I hope you dont mind me posting so long on here, but many of you wont know that I am aiming to complete my first marathon on New Years Eve (nor who I am). I apologise in advance for any sense of intrusion, and hope that the causes I am raising funds for will be reason enough for you to understand why I have messaged on here - in fact my first donor was a parkrun buddy. The event I am participating in is actually a Virtual Marathon event organised by the Indigenous Marathon Project. However, my own personal goal is to raise money for one of two great charities, both are superb causes, with one being more personal to me. The first and most personal cause I am running for, and the main inspiration for my attempt at a marathon is that of Miracle Babies. This is a support group for parents and families of premature babies. My family has been very grateful for the support offered at the time our daughter, India, was born and over the next couple of years. My wife has particularly benefitted from having people who understand the pain that went hand in hand with the joy of a totally unexpected early entry to the world. Many colleagues at work supported me at the time, offering cooked meals, clothes and presents for India, time for me to talk with them and this is something Ill always remember and value. For me, this support and that provided by Miracle Babies helped me through a genuinely tough time just wondering what was going to happen. I would like to help other parents who face the same anxiety as I did hence me taking up the challenge of a marathon. Dodgy knees have hindered some progress in recent weeks, and I have to admit to being scared if Ill make it... but I so will try. If you are able to support the Miracle Babies Foundation my Everyday hero page is below, as is an information website for the organisation itself. To donate to Miracle Babies: https://give.everydayhero/au/tom-58 miraclebabies.org.au/ The second main cause that Ill tell you about is that of my Running Club, Rogue Runners Club Australia, which is Battens Disease Research and Support. This is a little understood disease affecting children with symptoms and effects such as blindness and seizures. After my own seizure last year I am more than aware of the impact this can have on your life, yet mine are very rare (and controllable by medication) unlike many of the children who suffer this disease. It is hereditary with recessive genes so it can catch families unaware... and siblings can each have the disease - a massive strain for any family afflicted. My club aims to raise $10,000 over the cause of the tax year, so far we have raised approximately $5,000. I have participated in a relay ultra marathon on a treadmill in Mirabooka Shopping centre and completed a hard Half Marathon (another Virtual one) to help fundraise for this one (my entry fees have also gone to the cause directly). Having met a family where two of their 3 sons have the disease I know that any bit of help towards finding a cure is much appreciated (the mum even took part in our treadmill relay - her first ever run I think). I have posted my Everday Hero Link below and a link to the Cause page itself in case you think this is something youd like to support me raise funds for: To donate to Battens Disease: https://give.everydayhero/au/tom-56 battens.org.au/ If youve read this far, thank you. I appreciate your time. If you fancy joining me for part of the run, feel free to ask me where Im planning to do it - any company would be much loved. If you have any questions, or advice or comments, please feel free to let me have them. Wish me luck, Tom
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 05:01:44 +0000
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