A friend of mine was killed in a car crash a year ago, leaving his two boys, my godsons, ages 7 and 9.  Raising money for Winson's Wish, one of the leading providers of support to bereaved children, is one of my ways of remembering him.  This charity will also have resonances for anyone from my department at Hess Exploration in London.

The Ironman Triathlon at Sherborne on 7th September 2008 consisted of a 2.4 mile open water swim (1 hour 18) , followed by a hilly 112 mile cycle (5 hours 51) and then a 26.2 mile run (3 hours 48) which I completed in a total of 10 hours 57 minutes, making me just inside the top 100 finishers of 1200.

It's not my habit to seek sponsorship for sporting events but the Ironman presented me with a real challenge compared to anything I had done before. I was delighted to finish, spurred on by generosity of my supporters and have no plans to repeat the performance!

Thank you!

John

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Winston's Wish gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.  If you're a higher rate taxpayer you can get relief from higher rate tax on your gift via your tax return at the end of the year.