~ A Massive Thank you ~

Where to start!!.......

Hand and foot castings are now in place at the Horton Maternity Unit in Banbury, not only this, but we have managed to get the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on board.

Both hospitals now bestow bereaved families with hand and foot castings of their precious stillborn babies.  This is more than I ever dreamed.

I want to share with you all how thrilled, happy and excited I am about this news, however, equally I am saddened and heartbroken that this is only a tiny bit of comfort I can offer these families.

So today I have spent the day at the Horton Hospital in Banbury, where four years ago we lost our little Sophie. I had a go myself at casting a doll's foot to see how the process works.  It's amazing, easy and quick to do.  Take a look at the pictures below........

So how have we got here.  I would like to thank all of you who donated to my marathon challenge, this is what it was all about.  

Your donations have made this happen.  You have provided at least 185 families something to cherish forever and this equates to nearly three years completely funded by you. After this time, continuing funding from other donors and SANDs will keep the castings a permanent memory to families from now on.

I have had many, many meetings over the last year with the amazing bereavement team who have facilitated my idea through to its implementation. A huge thank you to Vicky Warr and Kim Paul. Thanks also to Yolanda Jacob who has made sure that all the money you donated was set aside for these castings.  A big thank you to the midwives at both the Horton and JR maternity units who care for the families who have lost their little ones and make sure they offer this gift to them.

So what next, well I am in the process of working with Sarah Vaccari (Communications Manager from the Charitable Trust) to spread the news to others via local and potentially national newspapers.  I would love to see this rolled out to many more hospitals as I strongly feel it is an important service to offer ALL bereaved families.

Sadly, I would have cherished casts like these of Sophie, I forget how small she was and how she felt in my arms.  The castings will never be enough but I do hope that these little tactile keepsakes will be cherished by the families.

I also want to thank a lady I met a couple of years ago, you know who you are, you gave me this idea and now we have both managed to share this with so many more :) xxxx

~ THANK YOU ~

Why am I doing this?

Its only 4 weeks away, am I nervous.... erm yep!

I have had an injury the last few weeks since the MK half and am still trying to be 'fit' for the start line on the 21st April.  I have been advised that if I make it to the start 98% of people finish... that's all that matters to me this year!

I keep remembering the quote "Of course it's hard.  Its supposed to be hard.  if it were easy, everybody would do it.  Hard is what makes it great."
- Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) from 'A League of their own'

So why am I putting myself through this?  3 years ago our family's life changed forever - that may sound dramatic but sadly it does change you as a person and also the family.  That's not to say I don't feel we have all come a loooonnnng way since then.  I love my little men dearly and feel blessed we went on to have a gorgeous little Samuel, who brightens up our days.

Little Sophie's death sometimes still feels like a dream, the memories of the days blur and the images you retain in your head are lead by the pictures we still have.  As with any loved ones who leave our lives, you hold on to all those items/photos that remind you of what you had or could have had.  We want more than the photos, I want more...... but sadly, that's it, its all I have.  What I really want is my baby girl who would now be 3 years old and just starting nursery school this year, I would have seen her in her Christmas show, her Easter bonnet parade and celebrated 3 birthdays with pink stuff everywhere!

What could we do to help people in our situation.... to be honest not a lot, its cra@ppy and I can take none of the pain or hurt away from them.  But I can look forward for them, I would love to give them more to remember their little ones by.  I came across hand and foot casting of stillborns through my photography work, I was touched by a lady who had lost her first baby but had the castings when she was at Swindon Hospital.  I loved the fact that the castings were so tactile and reflected so well the form and prints of her little ones feet.  It felt more real that photographs.  I wanted one!!!!!

50% of the money I will raise goes to the materials, training and making of hand and foot castings, making this a free service for all stillborn children at the Horton Maternity Hospital.

The Horton Hospital have been fantastically supportive and have loved the idea,  Claire (Delivery Suite Manager) and Yolanda (Fundraising project manager) have researched and planned how we proceed with implementing the castings.  We are planning a visit to Swindon to see how it works and then use the ideas back in Banbury.  I can't wait to have a trial up and running, if we can prove it is viable we hope the Sands group linked to the Hospital will support the project ongoing.

I am blessed that I have been able to be so hands on with exactly where your money will be going and will ensure that it is a success.

30% of the money also goes to Sands to help support all the other families who rely so heavily on their services after a bereavement.

10% of your money goes to Macmillan who were so good with helping my own mum, with care when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.

10% goes to an amazing charity, Muscular Dystrophy who fund research to cure this condition and also support families affected by it.  Our close friend's son has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which causes progressive muscle weakness.  He is an amazing little boy (not so little now!) and currently is fairly fit and healthy..... long may that last.  Love you Ethan! xxxx

So that leads us to the answer...... why am I doing this........ 

why would I not!

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Keeping me 'Appy' running - Give us a CHEER!!!!!

Okay, so I use two lots of timekeeping/distance tracking devices.... maybe its an OCD, but I need to know at all times how I am doing.... its just my thing!

Firstly I have a great little Garmin watch which has my heart rate monitor paired to it so I can see how much I am pushing myself and at a glance, distance and pace, this is great but I found an 'app' I love more!

The Nike running app I think is fantastic, its a motivator as well as a tracker and I NEED the motivation sometimes.  Okay yes the app is American and the lady (or man should you wish) who talks in my ear can some times be a little annoying, but she is positive and lets me know how I am doing.

So what features do I most like from this little app:

1. You can connect it to its online 'mummy' app at www.nikeplus.nike.com which gives you sooooo much info, stats and targets which is motivating in itself, how far you have run in total, average run, how many weeks you have been running, plus your all time records.  Obviously it maps all your individual runs via GPS with splits etc.  Your iphone will automatically sync when you get home to your computer.

2. Whilst you are running you plug your headphones in and the nice American lady will tell you how you are doing, i.e. distance and your pace per mile, I set mine to tell me every half mile but you can change this, plus it syncs any playlist you want to listen to so at a touch of a button at the start of running it sorts music out for you too!  You can set it to a certain distance per run, okay today I am going to run 11 miles, she counts you up to half way then tells you how far you have left, just before you finish she will tell you 'You are nearly at your target, keep going!' then at the end you get a random sports personality congratulating you on how you have done ~ cheesy I know but its instant gratification for a long hard run!

3. I have my app set up to sync mine with Facebook, which when you then start a run it automatically add it in to my status.  Then whenever someone 'comments' or 'likes' my status and I am out running I get a cheer and clapping in my ear!!! how great, what a lovely thing to hear that someone is rooting for you (albeit in the comfort of their homes, probably sat on the sofa, but I try and dismiss this thought!!)  So when I am in the middle of the countryside, on my 8,9,10 etc mile I can randomly get a cheer and it pushes me on! ~ you can even 'like' then 'unlike' and 'like' again just to give me more!! lol : )

So before everyone starts thinking I am suddenly employed by Nike PR! I shall leave you to download this little app, try it out for yourself and see if you like it!  Tell me what you think?

And remember if you ever see this posted on my Facebook, 'LIKE' the status, give me a cheer, keep me running!! :)

A little motivation goes a long way......

I have been thinking recently how to motivate myself to get through the next 14 weeks of training. The thing about running is its very much a mental battle as well as a physical. No one wants to run for 2 hours+ on their own, training. So I am thinking what will help me get through the next 14 weeks. Its very personal, what motivates one person may not motivate another..... So here's mine:

1) Running with others - its not possible all the time but having a companion does mean you don't feel like you are doing this all by yourself.

2) Good music - I have tried many times running without it but it does help you get through those tough bits, having 'Greatest day' and Gary by your side does a girl a lot of good!

3) Seeing how far you have gone, how quickly and what you have left - This is one I definitely think is my OCD, I wear both a Garmin (which I can glance at on my wrist) and use my iphone with my Nike app on it, this provides my music and a American lady in my ear telling me what I am doing every half a mile and cheers from you guys 'liking' on facebook! - I am thinking of writing a post on this little app as I love it (coming soon!)

4) Telling people before hand what I am up to on that day - this means mentally you are stating that its going to happen, whether you fancy it or not! It makes it real and you feel obliged to go through with it. So sorry guys that's why I often post on facebook etc because it means I feel like I can't back out!

Am going to try a audiobook (if someone suggests a good one) or maybe a podcast (again suggestions welcome) as it does take your mind somewhere else away from your legs.

So what advice or suggestions have you got for me for the next 14 weeks?? please drop me a message below and tell me what you think!?

oh and I bought some new trainers.... : )

As always, feel free to sponsor me and I am still looking for a few more great sweepstake prizes for you lovely people to win on the big day!