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