On 11 May, I’m attempting a half ironman triathlon in Mallorca. Having now acquired my maximum buoyancy wetsuit, invested in a Garmin watch with which I think I could circumnavigate the earth and trialled all manner of energy gels and hydration tablets, I just about feel confident enough to embark on some charity fundraising…

I would love any support you are able to provide to raise some money for Shooting Stars Children’s Hospices. My target is GBP 10k, and if I can hit that target, I undertake to die my hair pink ahead of the event. I have a hair apt booked for Saturday afternoon with a slightly nervous colourist who has lined up a “pink wash” (quite nervous myself…), so with this email I would like to kick off a quick blast five-day round of fundraising.

Shooting Stars is a charity that supports babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions across south west and north west London and across Surrey. The specialist nurses and carers are trained to address complex medical needs and the wider team provide family support, including bereavement services. Some more information on the incredible work of the charity can be found here: https://www.shootingstar.org.uk/

To contextualise my GBP 10k target: this sum would provide heating for one of the hospice’s hydrotherapy pools for a year. These pools are a safe space for families to create special memories. For some it’s the first time they’ve been able to take their child swimming. Hydrotherapy also provides physical benefits such as helping muscle tone and strength, enabling mobility not possible out of water.

If you would be willing to make a donation, Shooting Stars would be enormously grateful and it would be a huge source of inspiration for me on the day (and I will need all the help I can get!).