Thank You Matt

The Get Busy Living Centre where do I start

How about I just say it right from the heart

For us it’s a place that brings love and hope

On days that are hard and we are struggling to cope

Not only do they help us up in the gym

It’s the warm fuzzy feeling they help create from within

Supporting each beneficiary and their families who walk through the door

Who have lost a sense of who they are and life just isn’t the same anymore

For us life took a horrible turn - it will never be the same

You grieve for all the losses and want the life you had back again

When everything you know is turned on its head

Remembering back to those early hospital days just fill me with dread

All you want is to get your loved one back home

But then you get there and you’ve never felt so alone

Isolated, scared and worried about what the future will bring

And how suddenly you’ve lost the things that used to make your heart sing

Life hasn’t been the same since that awful day

And now parts of who Colin was have completely gone away

For me it’s a journey of grief which walks with me everyday

Somedays it’s really dark and I struggle to find my way

Coupled with sadness, loss, anger and pain

I long for the day I can feel happy and carefree again

In those times it’s really hard to stay strong

So I thank my lucky stars that the centre came along

It offered a bright beacon of hope when things seemed so sad

Being with people who understood and were there for us, through the good and the bad

Forever thankful to Matt and the team for all they have done

Creating a place to help you get strong again but also bringing all the fun

Making cups of tea and offering chats to make you smile

Always prepared to help and to go the extra mile

The friendships that are built there are strong and true

It’s like one big family that help pick you up when you are feeling blue

I don’t know what we’d do if we didn’t have the support

And the sense of belonging that it gives us just can’t be bought

That’s why I’m taking on challenges to raise awareness and funds

Swimming, cycling and clocking lots of miles through some sponsored runs

There’s nothing I can do that will be enough to show our gratitude to you

But this is our way of saying #ThankYouMatt for all that you do

Not only for us but for everyone who walks through the door

With ‘Getting Busy Living’ running right through the centres core

Matt inspires and supports others whilst creating a fantastic community

And just to be a part of it - how lucky are we!

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For those that aren’t aware, in 2018 Colin was taking part in a middle distance triathlon and during the cycle he came off his bike where he sustained numerous injuries including a serious traumatic and hypoxic brain injury. His situation was worsened due to the fact he wasn’t found until 45 minutes after the initial crash so there was a delay in getting him all the help he needed. After long hard weeks/months in intensive care and neuro wards, Colin was well enough to be transferred to a rehabilitation hospital to begin his recovery journey. 6 months later we arrived back home.

Now nearly 5 years on, Colin still has help from teams including physiotherapy, speech therapy, hydrotherapy, occupational therapy, neurology, ophthalmology, orthotics and more….

Until something like this happens to you, you think it’s one of those things that just happens on TV or to somebody else or just simply something you don’t need to worry about. The truth is you may need the help at any moment. Life could change in a split second just like ours has and even what we thought would be a great and memorable day out at a triathlon event with Col doing what he loves and does best, he ended up spending weeks in a coma fighting for his life in intensive care. 

When you are suddenly thrown into this situation life can be isolating and lonely. The accident happened to Colin that day but it also affects the people closest to him too. Staying positive and strong is the only option, not only for yourself but everyone around you but sometimes that’s so exhausting when it’s your everyday reality.

Colin’s recovery will be ongoing and every area of our life will never be the same again. Not a moment goes by where I wish things were different. I miss him everyday. Life for us is tough and because of that I have absolutely no idea what we would do without the centre. Not only for Colin but for me too.

So on a more positive note…..

This is my small way of saying thanks. You never knew when you might need it - we certainly didn’t

In May 2023 it will be 5 years since Colin’s accident. I still haven’t got over it and unfortunately I don’t think I ever will. Every year when the day, date and race comes round it is the worst day of the year for me. I have an overwhelming feeling of sadness and grief that I just can’t shake.

THIS YEAR I’m going to do something about it

THIS YEAR I have registered to do the race that Colin wasn’t able to finish

THIS YEAR I’m going to finish it for him

THIS YEAR I’m going to replace the bad, awful painful memories of that day with good and do something amazing

Due to our circumstances I have no time or opportunity to train so it will very much be a just turn up and do it approach. With a lot of the things I do I might not be physically able to do it but mentally I can and my determination and strength and my ‘reason why’ will get me through. I have always said whilst Col can’t do these things I will do it for him. If things were the other way round he would do the same for me too.

Col inspires me everyday to be more daring, challenge myself and not always just play it safe. We should all be more like Col in life. He used to grab challenges and thrive on them, loved to mix it up and always took it to the next level at every opportunity. The strength and unbreakable determination he has shown in his recovery journey is inspiring and remarkable when it would be so easy to just give up.

My aim is to do something once a month during 2023 that challenges me and pushes me out of my comfort zone. And if I can raise funds and awareness for the charity that is helping Colin week in week out then it is all worth it. The big challenge for me will be the Outlaw 70.3 on the 21st May. It’s a 1.2 mile lake swim, 56 mile bike and a half marathon and I will have to have both the physical and mental strength to get through it. It will be emotional.

*2023*

Sunday 29th January - Leicester 10k

Sunday 19th February - Nottingham Half Marathon

Miles in March - Cycling as many miles on the wattbike as I can during March (141 miles completed)

Sunday 16th April - Cathedral to Castle 10 mile race

Sunday 21st May - Outlaw Half Nottingham. Middle distance triathlon. Comprising of 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run

Sunday 11th June - Carsington Water Half Marathon

Friday 30th June - Long Course Weekend 2.4 mile (sea!) swim

Saturday 1st July - Long Course Weekend 42 mile (hilly!) bike

Sunday 2nd July - Long Course Weekend 13.1 mile (hilly!) run

Saturday 26th August - National Triathlon Relays at Holme Pierrepont

10th September - Great North Run

Sunday 17th September - Ironman Weymouth

*2024*

Sunday 26th May - Ride London

Find out more about our story here #WhatWouldColDo www.justgiving.com/fundraising/WhatWouldColDo