I never was much of an athlete; always getting my Mum to write me notes to get out of PE at school, as the thought of competitive sports made me tremble. However, turning 24 this year and realising the older you get, the easier it is to put on a few pounds, I decided to set myself a challenge.
Liz Weston, of the Children’s Air Ambulance, is my crazy Aunt. She’s always trying to get me to organise fundraising events in Liverpool (where I live), but I’m always too busy with my own work or other social arrangements. However, when she posted on Facebook that she was running the BUPA 10,000 10k race in London to raise funds for the Children’s Air Ambulance, I thought; if she can do it, I can too! So that was it – challenge set.
The “Dream Team”, as we were sarcastically branded, consisted of my Aunt Liz, her “sort-of” daughter in law, Melissa Hobbs (don’t ask – it’s complicated), her friend Helen Wood, their personal trainer Sarah Palmer, my boyfriend Chris Michael and I.
I took to training quite seriously – and even got up at 6am on a few cold winter mornings for pre-work runs. Safe to say I was exhausted by the end of the day! As the date drew nearer, posters were put up all over work showing me holding up my bright green Children’s Air Ambulance vest, hoping that my colleagues would get behind me.
I know that The Children's Air Ambulance is the first and only dedicated helicopter emergency transfer that flies sick children from one hospital to a more specialist unit, alongside a team of clinicians. And that he charity relies solely on donations, as there is no Government; therefore I was determined to give it my best shot.
Continuing my training, I posted regular updates on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, reminding people of the challenge I had set myself. With the help of colleagues, I organised a few events in the office including; a Grand National sweepstake, a quiz night, a bake sale and an Easter Raffle and bonnet competition.
Unfortunately mid training, I had a little set back. An old skiing injury came back to haunt me and I tore the ligament in my knee for the third time. Yet the grand total of my pre-race fundraising came to £915 and there was no way I was not taking part in the BUPA 10,000 10k when I was so close to the thousand pounds mark.
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| "The Dream Team" after their triumphant finish |
Sunday 25th May soon snuck up on us, and the ‘Dream Team’ headed down to London; quilts and blow up beds in tow as we were staying in a friend’s apartment. We visited a local Italian restaurant for some pre-race pasta “carb loading” – and surprisingly managed to have an alcohol free zone evening!
On the morning of the race, the atmosphere was electric. You can only imagine the excitement and slight nervousness of so many runners. The race began in 16 waves from 10am. All of the Dream Team members except for Chris were in the final wave so we didn’t begin until twenty to eleven. With Mo Farah at the starting line welcoming us with his air horn, we all jogged past signing the obligatory M and off we went.
The race began in Green Park opposite Buckingham Palace, and continued past the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye and the Shard. With all the sights to take in and adrenalin pumping – the kilometres were flying by (until we reached half way and I could have done with a lie down). Supporting each other along the way, stopping for toilet, water and too-tight trainer breaks, the team stuck together. We all successfully finished the race within an hour and a half – except for Chris who ditched us and legged it round in 50 minutes (show off).
Absolutely elated at the finish, many sweaty “selfies” were taken with our medals and cheesy grins, clearly displaying how proud we all were of ourselves for running the BUPA 10,000 10k as a team for the Children’s Air Ambulance. Champagne bottles were popped in celebration and I checked round all of the Dream Team’s Just Giving pages to realise between us we had raised just under three thousand pounds.
In real terms, we managed to facilitate two Children’s Air Ambulance flights for critically ill children in order for them to receive the life saving treatment they may need in a specialist unit. Knowing we had raised enough money to potentially save two children’s lives made all the blood, sweat and tears worth it – and we’d all do it again in a heartbeat.
Written by Harriet Clayton
