Claire’s 2012 Olympic Challenge 

  

During 2012 I will embark on my biggest personal challenge yet ….

By the end of 2012, I  am hoping to have completed, 3 Full Marathons, 1 Triathlon (sprint distance) and some smaller events/races and whilst doing this I hope to raise awareness of the fantastic work and facilities that both Helen and Douglas House offer to children and young adults with life shortening illnesses.

 

My employer WILA Group Limited has and is a proud supporter of Helen and Douglas House and agreed to sponsor my efforts therefore it only seemed right to continue the support and offer my legs and feet to pound the 26.2 mile London circuit on 22nd April 2012 and to paticipate in the first of my three full marathons for Helen and Douglas House.  So 1 dawn, 2 go.  I completed the Virgin London marathon on  Sunday 22nd April 2012 in 04:26:35 secs.  I am pleased with the result as I was expecting 04:30-04:45hrs.  I now have a benchmark to work against in preparation for the next one.  However, before then I will be participating in the Blenheim Triathlon on Saturday 9th June 2012. 

 

It is Helen & Douglas House’s 30th Birthday this year, which also means that it is 30 years of the children’s hospice movement around the world. 

 

Helen & Douglas House was founded by Sister Francis and opened in 1982. Since then over 40 more children’s hospices have opened around the UK as well as around the world.

 

Having personally completed 3 full marathons previously, I have yet to break that all important sub 4 hours time.  I ran my last marathon in Paris in April 2007, since then training has dwindled and we, myself and my husband Nick now have our two gorgeous boys Thomas, age 4 and Edward, nearly 10 months.

 

With 2012 being the “Year of the Olympics” in the UK I thought what better time to get myself fit, shed those additional baby lbs and have a crack at getting my time down.  I am not confident that I will beat the clock at this weekends London Marathon, but know with two further marathons and supporting events and races I can only continue to increase my fitness and “Fingers Crossed” decrease that all important personal time.

 

The training got underway last year whilst I was on Maternity Leave with Thomas and Edward taking it in turns to join me, Mummy running with the stroller!!  The challenge officially commenced in Dubai, when I completed the Dubai 10K on Friday 27th January 2012.

 

It is sooooo easy to sponsor me just click on www.justgiving.com/Claire-Styles and donate those all important pennies and pounds where possible or text 70070 and then KDSO98 and the amount you wish to donate.

 

Helen & Douglas House is a registered charity providing respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family. The two hospice houses are bright, vibrant and positive places, where the emphasis is on living life to the full, even when that life may be short.

Children can stay at Helen House and young adults can stay at Douglas House, along with their families, for short periods of time for rest and recuperation, treatment of distressing symptoms and end of life care and support. In any one year we support over 250 children, young adults and their families.

It costs over £4.5 million every year to run Helen & Douglas House, most of which comes from voluntary contributions - your support means a great deal to us!