Carol Batterbee
Our Mountain Challenge For Daniel
Fundraising for Making it Better - The Daniel Courtney Trust
Story
Just to let you know, that spurred on by your very generous donations (which have shot up to an awesome £1,862 plus an extra £293.33 gift aid!) we are proud to say that "WE DID IT!"
We finally crossed the finish line at 9.30 in the evening after a gruelling 14 hours on our feet battling against the elements! Gale force winds(70 mph), driving rain, hail, and pretty chilly conditions were all part of the course, not to mention lots of ups and downs on the way (summits that is!). The weather certainly played havoc on the mountains, with five cases of hypothermia and with one competitor breaking their arm (and that's just the casualties we heard about). Many people opted for the shorter routes on the day, or decided to catch the mini bus back rather than complete the whole course.. or simply stayed in bed! So, we're pretty proud of our achievement!!
I would like say a very big thank you to my fantastic team mates - Tim, Rosie and Andy. A special thank you to Tim - our team leader who did a fab job of ensuring we all made it to the end in one piece. Another special thank you to Jenny Burgess who very nobly got up at 4 o'clock in the morning to drive us to the Brecon Beacons, and then waited all day to bring us home again.
Many thanks once again for all your support. The money raised has given the Daniel Courtney Trust a real boost and will go towards further research into Microvillous Atrophy.
YAY - we are really proud and happy to say WE DID IT!!! More details tomorrow - off to bed now! Thank you so much for your support - it really helped to spur us on!
16th May - well it's the Big day!!! It's 4.30 in the morning and we're just about to leave! Wish us luck
UPDATE - 12th May - we've been checking out the weather reports and things aren't looking so great for Saturday!!! "Cloudy with occasional rain or showers, locally heavy with a risk of thunder. Extensive hill fog patches at first. Strong easterly winds"
We're now busy having a kit rethink! We may even have to take a flask! Lets hope the weatherman's got it all wrong! Thank you for your continuing support - we need all the help we can get right now!!!
UPDATE - 8th May - WOW - we've not only reached, but exceeded our £1,000 target!! This has really given our motivation a boost. Thank you everyone!
*UPDATE From Jo* A very, very big thank you to everyone below who has so kindly sponsored us, and to Monica and Martin Courtney, Geoff H, Helen C, Jon and Simone Hall, the Smith Family (Helen and Geoff), Sarah Wiggins, Ortrude Pettit, Pete and Marie, Julie, Andrew and Lucy Ring, Paul Courtney, Dawn and Caroline, Gerry, Phil, Louis and Ollie and Chris and Steve Clements who have all sponsored us offline!! Your generosity is fantastic!!
I've been very good with my training so far, and in the gym virtually every day... but there's nothing like the real thing... so last week Tim and I went for a test run (walk?) to Cadair Idris. We had a great day and despite some pretty steep ascents and descents, I returned with two fully functioning knees so I'm really happy! Also, my lovely, shiny, expertly fitted new boots did a great job!
......................................................................................................................................................
In a moment of total utter madness, we decided to sign up to do the Big Black Mountain Challenge - a 43 km (yes that's no typo) mountain expedition with lots of peaks and valleys to add to the fun! All this in one day - but with the promise of free tea and cakes at the end if we make it! Who could ask for more?
The Black Mountains, which form part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, offer 15 summits over 2000 feet and most are included in the walk - you can take a look at the route by visiting the following website http://www.longtownmrt.org.uk/BBMCRouteC.pdf
Here comes the serious bit... we're doing this for Jo's son Daniel, who suffered from Microvillous Atrophy and very sadly died in April 2005 at the age of 16 months after a multi organ transplant. We hope that we will face the challenge in the same way that Daniel lived his life - always with a smile on his face and with absolutely no whinging, whining or moaning despite the pain and discomfort (mmm - that could be tricky but we'll try!).
If you can, please help to spur us on by making a donation to Daniel's Charity. Any contributions will really mean a lot to us (and ensure that we don't pull out at the last minute!) and will go towards much needed research into Microvillous Atrophy.
There's lots more information about Daniel's Charity at www.makingitbetter.org.uk so please take a look. Also please consider signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register - there are thousands of children and adults waiting for a life-saving transplant, but for many their wait will be in vain due to a desperate shortage of donors.
Thank you so much for looking at our fundraising page and lending us your support!!
We finally crossed the finish line at 9.30 in the evening after a gruelling 14 hours on our feet battling against the elements! Gale force winds(70 mph), driving rain, hail, and pretty chilly conditions were all part of the course, not to mention lots of ups and downs on the way (summits that is!). The weather certainly played havoc on the mountains, with five cases of hypothermia and with one competitor breaking their arm (and that's just the casualties we heard about). Many people opted for the shorter routes on the day, or decided to catch the mini bus back rather than complete the whole course.. or simply stayed in bed! So, we're pretty proud of our achievement!!
I would like say a very big thank you to my fantastic team mates - Tim, Rosie and Andy. A special thank you to Tim - our team leader who did a fab job of ensuring we all made it to the end in one piece. Another special thank you to Jenny Burgess who very nobly got up at 4 o'clock in the morning to drive us to the Brecon Beacons, and then waited all day to bring us home again.
Many thanks once again for all your support. The money raised has given the Daniel Courtney Trust a real boost and will go towards further research into Microvillous Atrophy.
YAY - we are really proud and happy to say WE DID IT!!! More details tomorrow - off to bed now! Thank you so much for your support - it really helped to spur us on!
16th May - well it's the Big day!!! It's 4.30 in the morning and we're just about to leave! Wish us luck
UPDATE - 12th May - we've been checking out the weather reports and things aren't looking so great for Saturday!!! "Cloudy with occasional rain or showers, locally heavy with a risk of thunder. Extensive hill fog patches at first. Strong easterly winds"
We're now busy having a kit rethink! We may even have to take a flask! Lets hope the weatherman's got it all wrong! Thank you for your continuing support - we need all the help we can get right now!!!
UPDATE - 8th May - WOW - we've not only reached, but exceeded our £1,000 target!! This has really given our motivation a boost. Thank you everyone!
*UPDATE From Jo* A very, very big thank you to everyone below who has so kindly sponsored us, and to Monica and Martin Courtney, Geoff H, Helen C, Jon and Simone Hall, the Smith Family (Helen and Geoff), Sarah Wiggins, Ortrude Pettit, Pete and Marie, Julie, Andrew and Lucy Ring, Paul Courtney, Dawn and Caroline, Gerry, Phil, Louis and Ollie and Chris and Steve Clements who have all sponsored us offline!! Your generosity is fantastic!!
I've been very good with my training so far, and in the gym virtually every day... but there's nothing like the real thing... so last week Tim and I went for a test run (walk?) to Cadair Idris. We had a great day and despite some pretty steep ascents and descents, I returned with two fully functioning knees so I'm really happy! Also, my lovely, shiny, expertly fitted new boots did a great job!
......................................................................................................................................................
In a moment of total utter madness, we decided to sign up to do the Big Black Mountain Challenge - a 43 km (yes that's no typo) mountain expedition with lots of peaks and valleys to add to the fun! All this in one day - but with the promise of free tea and cakes at the end if we make it! Who could ask for more?
The Black Mountains, which form part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, offer 15 summits over 2000 feet and most are included in the walk - you can take a look at the route by visiting the following website http://www.longtownmrt.org.uk/BBMCRouteC.pdf
Here comes the serious bit... we're doing this for Jo's son Daniel, who suffered from Microvillous Atrophy and very sadly died in April 2005 at the age of 16 months after a multi organ transplant. We hope that we will face the challenge in the same way that Daniel lived his life - always with a smile on his face and with absolutely no whinging, whining or moaning despite the pain and discomfort (mmm - that could be tricky but we'll try!).
If you can, please help to spur us on by making a donation to Daniel's Charity. Any contributions will really mean a lot to us (and ensure that we don't pull out at the last minute!) and will go towards much needed research into Microvillous Atrophy.
There's lots more information about Daniel's Charity at www.makingitbetter.org.uk so please take a look. Also please consider signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register - there are thousands of children and adults waiting for a life-saving transplant, but for many their wait will be in vain due to a desperate shortage of donors.
Thank you so much for looking at our fundraising page and lending us your support!!