Hello! Welcome to Liz and Tracy’s Justgiving page!

We are taking part in the Blenheim Triathlon on Saturday 9 June this year and we are raising money to support the invaluable work of the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF).

To be honest we didn’t really know what we were letting ourselves in for! It is a SERIOUSLY challenging event starting with a 750m swim across open water followed by a 20k (12m) cycle race and ending with a 5k (3.2m) run. The event is made all the more grueling by the need to wear a selection of deeply unflattering sportswear. Along with hundreds of other competitors and in full view of thousands of spectators we will be wearing wetsuits, swimming hats, nose clips and a lycra all-in-one “tri-suit”. If only we had known this before we rashly agreed to participate in a haze of Pinot Grigio-induced enthusiasm!

So why are we doing it?

Liz:

After many years of successfully avoiding anything more physically strenuous that dancing round my handbag I started running. It has changed my life and I feel fitter at 50 than I did at 25.  I can't believe I've entered a triathlon and I’m really excited to be taking part.

More seriously, it gives me an opportunity to support my amazing friend, Tracy Clark, to help her raise money for the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation.

Tracy:

For me I have always exercised but have never really put myself up for a big challenge, but when something like this hits your family I guess I am ready for any challenge to help my daughter Lucy. Who better to do this triathlon with than my inspirational and amazing friend Liz, who has been there for me through everything along with her daughter Clio who has always been an incredible best friend to Lucy. Let’s face it, Liz certainly gets me moving, she really is a brilliant training partner!

Why the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation?

Last year Tracy’s daughter, Lucy, was diagnosed with a rare liver condition (Sclerosing Cholangitis) at the age of 13. The implications were grave and potentially life-threatening. There were many weeks of anxiety and uncertainty. Thankfully Lucy has responded brilliantly to the treatment she received. With continued research and medical support, Lucy and children like her will live long and healthy lives hopefully without the need for a liver transplant. The CLDF provides support for families dealing with the challenges of living with liver disease. They raise awareness of the symptoms in children which can go undiagnosed leading to far greater organ damage later in life. They also fund research to help develop effective treatments for different kinds of liver disease.  Thanks to the research supported by the CLDF, children are being diagnosed earlier and medication can be provided to help control the effects of this chronic liver disease. The more the progress of the disease can be slowed, the longer we have for research into the disease and what causes it and hopefully to ultimately find a cure.

 Please help the vital work of this charity by sponsoring us! Every donation is truly appreciated and all the money we raise will go towards helping children with liver disease around the UK.