As my wife posted on Facebook this morning, today marks one month until my Ironman race.
30 days to be precise. I have reacted to this information with abject terror. A chill ran down my spine when I read her post. It really actually is 30 days. There is no way around it. 30 days from now at 6.30am I will be dressed in a wetsuit, swim hat and goggles. Along with my friends Mike and Bushy I will run into the sea at Weymouth to start 16 hours of non stop exercising. I am genuinely shaking at the thought.
Yesterday I felt fine. My training has been going OK, I managed the Half Ironman reasonably well and my confidence was fairly high. Today I am panicking. I think that self doubt is inevitable when it comes to undertaking such a huge challenge; however I have never felt as nervous as this before. God only knows what I am going to be like in 30 days time.
Anyway enough of me being a Nervous Nigel. I have a some people to thank.
4 weeks ago now a group of people got together for a party. The party was a garden games party, hosted by Jean and Vince who are soon to become my sister’s in-laws. They have held summer games parties for a while; however this year they decided to raise some money for Chestnut Tree House.
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| Fantastic Gardens |
They were inspired by the same thing I was, the story of Louise, Steve, their daughter Amber and the amazing support that Chestnut Tree House provided to them. If it hadn’t been for my sister telling Jean and Vince about the Ironman and Chestnut this fundraising event would not have happened, but boy am I glad it did.
It was an amazing sunny day in the simply beautiful gardens of Jean and Vince’s Sussex home. Their friends had come to play games and raffle off some amazingly generous prizes that had been donated. All proceeds to go to Chestnut Tree House.
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| Ball flinging game. |
Jean and Vince were amazing hosts. Vince had done an amazing job building all the games and Jean was on simply superb form entertaining everybody. My parents were also on hand to help with the games, make a few sandwiches etc. Louise and Steve came along with their son Owen and Steve gave a simply beautiful speech about Amber, Chestnut Tree House and the wonderful work that they do. It brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it. If I can harness 1% of the strength that Steve and Louise have shown since the loss of their little daughter I will have no trouble at the Ironman at all.
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| Raffle – Jean and Vince standing up |
The whole day was brilliant. Once the raffle was completed and the dust had settled, between everybody who attended we had raised £630 (or £787.50 if you include Gift Aid) which is simply phenomenal.
A massive and heart felt thank you to all those who attended and raised such a brilliant total for Chestnut Tree House. Especially big thank you to Jean and Vince and everybody who helped them out to make the day go so perfectly.
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| Basketball game. |
Chestnut Tree House is the ONLY children’s hospice in Sussex and South East Hampshire. Without the support of charity fundraisers and private donations they would not run. Without Chestnut, there would be NO help for life limited children and their families throughout the entire of Sussex and South East Hampshire. NONE!
My aim through these Ironman endeavours is to pay for a days care at Chestnut. It costs them £6850 to stay open for just one day. As I write this I have raised £3,381.80, which is 49% of my target. If you would like to donate please visit my Just Giving page and give what you can. It simply means the world to me and the families that Chestnut Tree House supports.
Thanks All.
James
Snooky's Adventures 