As many of you know, while I'm quite happy running and cycling I have never been a very good swimmer...and I also seem to have inherited my mother's faulty thermostat as I get very cold very quickly, particularly when wet.

So why I have I voluntarily decided to throw myself in the chilly, murky Thames at 08.30 on a Sunday morning and swim 1500m -then stumble out, hop on my bike for 40km and then skip off for a 10km run? Here are a few reasons:

1. My first experience of triathlon was in New Zealand, in summer, and in a beautiful crystal clear lake - I hadn't really thought about a cold, grey, rainy September day in London when I signed up for this on the adrenaline high after completing said event...

2. Once I said I was going to do it, I wanted to give something back to a charity I really believed in. Doctors of the World UK (Medecins du Monde UK) is a charity doing really valuable work both on projects in the UK and abroad. Many of you have heard of Medecins San Frontiers (another amazing charity) - like them, DoW is a non-political international humanitarian aid organisation who provide healthcare in emergencies such as conflicts, natural disasters and humanitarian crises. In addition though, DoW stays on to provide assistance with recovery, rehabilitation and rebuilding communities after these disasters, and aims to develop long-term healthcare provision. They also work  closer to home: Project London is an advocacy project staffed by volunteers that provides information, advice to vulnerable people to help them access NHS and other services, and healthcare (e.g antenatal care, immunisation programmes) in the interim.

3. I have convinced/bullied my boyfriend, Dave, into also doing the triathlon -mainly with some big talking that I'd beat him hands down. Now I've got to come good on it!

I hope you have found one of these reasons good or stupid enough to donate a few pounds - even a pound makes a difference to Doctors of the World if everyone can contribute that.

Thank you for reading,

Alice

Here is the background information on JG if you are not familiar with the website:

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.