Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.
 
As some of you may be aware, one of my best mates and his wife recently suffered the tragedy of having a stillborn child (the baby was 12 days overdue, and due to be induced the following day but when they went for a routine check up they found out he had died, despite feeling him moving only hours before). From speaking to them about this, and hearing what they have been through over the last few weeks, it is difficult to understand and comprehend, particularly for people who have children themselves.
 
So, in a moment of (possible) madness, I have signed up to enter the Silverstone half marathon on 14 March 2010 to raise funds for Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society). Now, before this, my idea of exercise was using the stairs at work rather than the lift. So it's going to be quite a challenge.......
 
Sands have helped out my friends a lot in the last weeks and do some fantastic work to support grieving parents, as well as raising funds to research the causes of Stillbirth babies. If you would like any further details, their website is http://www.uk-sands.org. Jacko himself is also raising funds for Sands by running the London Marathon, and for more information about what they have gone through over the last few months, please visit his just-giving site at www.justgiving.com/simonjackson4mo
 
Now, I realise this is a long way before the event, but there are a few reasons for this:
 
1) It gives you plenty of time to sponsor me!
2) It will give me lots of motivation to see how much I will be raising for Sands.
3) (And most importantly)......You can watch me suffer over the next 5 months trying to get into shape in the cold/wet and windy weather! 
 
Thanks in advance for all your support (and mickey-taking).
 
Cheers,
 
Scotty

About the Charity I am raising money for: Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, is an organisation that offers support when a baby dies during pregnancy or after birth.

Sands, was founded in 1978 by a small group of bereaved parents devastated by the death of their babies and in particular by what they felt was a complete lack of acknowledgement and understanding of the significance and impact of their loss.

Over the past 25 years the charity has supported many thousands of families whose babies have died, offering emotional support, comfort and practical help. Sands has worked tirelessly with health professionals to revolutionise the care bereaved families receive in hospital. Sands has fundamentally changed the way in which bereaved parents and their babies are cared for

Why Sands is so relevant: Incredibly in the UK today, in spite of medical advances, many parents, their families and friends continue to have their lives quite literally turned upside down by the death of their baby.  17 babies a day are either stillborn or die within the first twenty eight days of life, over 6,500 babies dying every year.  Rates of stillbirth have remained relatively unchanged for 20 years and in fact are increasing.

Sands core aims are to:

support anyone affected by the death of a baby;

work with health professionals to improve the quality of care and services provided to bereaved parents and their families;

and promote changes in antenatal practice and to fund research that could help to reduce the loss of babies' lives and the number of families devastated by this tragedy.

With your support we can really make a difference.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Sands 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.

So please sponsor me now and thank you for your support!!!