If I'm going to do this, then it would seem a waste not to do it for charity. When Jo ran the London Marathon last year, it felt almost compulsory for the “fun runners” to get sponsored (why else would you do it !?!). Jo Ran for Macmillan Nurses, obviously a cause close to our hearts and raised around £900. I'm not sure if people look upon the Etape in the same way, for some "proper" cyclists this would be one of many similar events. For me this is very definitely a one-off, and a challenge big enough for me to think that sponsorship is appropriate. Just because I ride a couple of 10 mile time-trials (and I’m not very good at them!) doesn’t mean this is going to be easy.
After much deliberation, I have finally picked the charity. There are obviously lot to choose from that have played a part in our lives over the last couple of years, with cancer, strokes and heart problems all up there. In the end I have picked the Teenage Cancer Trust. There is something most upsetting with the idea that kids get cancer too. For those at the age where they understand what is happening to them it must be doubly difficult and scary beyond words. And for parents the feelings must be all consuming. The sense of helplessness as you stand by knowing that there is nothing you can do to fix it. I just can’t contemplate how I would feel if it were Fin or Josh.
In those dark hours when I bitch and moan about work, or money, or training, or not having a shiny new bike, there will always be the voice in the back of my head that tells me it all means nothing. I am healthy. I have 2 healthy boys. Shut up and get on with it.
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