Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > My first Triathlon - raising money for an amazing charity

[JasonBoswell]

On 6th June I’m aiming to complete my first Triathlon, at Blenheim Palace. It's a 750m swim, 20k cycle, topped off with a nice little 5k run. The swim stage is going to be hard enough, as three months ago I could barely do 25m in the pool and the swim at Blenheim is “open water” (in a lake, basically), but then to make matters worse it’s followed by the cycle and run.

I’m doing it for two, very unequally important reasons; firstly, to prove a point that having hit 40, I’ve still “got it” (whatever that is!), but mainly to raise some funds for the “Friends Of The Neonatal Unit At St Georges”, (http://www.friendsnnu.org.uk/).

The NNU at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London cares for some of the most vulnerable and premature babies in the South East in its intensive care and high-dependency units. Over 500 new-born babies every year are looked after by the medical and nursing staff; my God-Daughter, Isabel, spent many months at the NNU when she was first born and wouldn't be with us today but for the NNU.

The Friends charity was set up to raise extra funds to pay for vital equipment and staff training that can’t be covered by the NHS alone. It can cost up to £1000 a day to care for a new-born in intensive care, and without the extra funding from the Friends less little ones can be cared for.

As much as I have grumbled about my back-to-starters swimming lessons, getting up earlier than the sparrows to go cycling, or bemoaned my aged, aching knees, nothing I do compares with the effort these small babies show in getting through their ordeals, or the sheer determination of their parents to pull them through. It can be truly exhausting, but life-giving.

It's not much to ask then that I put myself through all the training for such an amazing cause and I’m asking that you please sponsor me for as much as you can. I’m doing it through Justgiving as that means the charity gets your money faster and the 25% in Gift Aid is added to your donation. My page is www.justgiving.com/jasonboswell - please click on the link and pledge what you can. I aiming to raise £750 and I can’t do it without your generous help.

Thanks all,


Jason

[JasonBoswell]

Gentle reminder

One week to go now... Today I'm pikcing up the road racing bike that I have hired for the week - couldnt justify spending £00s on a new bike. And tomorrow morning I'm doing the last of my practice swims in open water (which I loath!!!).

Anyhow, all this effort is for a wonderfully worthy cause... I've lost several kilos and can now fit in my leathers this summer!!

No, no, seriously, the charity that I am raising money for literally does save lives. Of babies born too early to fend for themselves and who need constant intensive care to pull through. Read above for more.

If you could find a couple of quid, or perhaps even £5 or £10, then I would be enormously grateful. Like I say, it's very rare that I get off my arse to do something charitable, so I'm doing all I can this time around. It's easy to donate through my page on www.justgiving.com/jasonboswell (and there's the benefit of Gift Aid also), but if you prefer to pledge cash then please just drop me a PM.

I'll update everyone on how I do next weekend. I'm almost looking forward to it!!

J--

[phillc]

Originally Posted by JasonBoswell

.Today I'm pikcing up the road racing bike that I have hired for the week - couldnt justify spending £00s on a new bike.

Correct. That money is much better spent on a Ducati race bike.

[Rattler]

Brave? Naive? Stupid? - a great cause though, good luck mate
Tim

[TP]

You hired a bike?! ok.

[JasonBoswell]

Originally Posted by Rattler

Brave? Naive? Stupid? - a great cause though, good luck mate
Tim

Cheers Tim, very much appreciated.

Originally Posted by TP

You hired a bike?! ok.

Yeah, just a little easier, TP.

Knowing you, I'm sure if I'd have asked you would have lent me yours, but this way I've got it for a week so I can get to grips with drop handlebars again for the first time in a couple of decades. Plus, if I crash it, or it get stolen then I'm dealing with a store, and not a mate!!

Will be hitting Richmond Park early evening

[TP]

Originally Posted by JasonBoswell

Yeah, just a little easier, TP.

Knowing you, I'm sure if I'd have asked you would have lent me yours, but this way I've got it for a week so I can get to grips with drop handlebars again for the first time in a couple of decades. Plus, if I crash it, or it get stolen then I'm dealing with a store, and not a mate!!

Will be hitting Richmond Park early evening

I'd already said you could borrow it. But I understand why you hired.

Good luck with the triathlon.

[JasonBoswell]

Originally Posted by phillc

Correct. That money is much better spent on a Ducati race bike.

A pair of NCR cams, perhaps? Or a nice ally rear subframe?