Mel Gordon
Virgin London Marathon 2010
UPDATED 28th FEB 2010.
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.
I will be running my first London Marathon for MACS as our one year old daughter Kara suffers from Micropthalmia of the right eye...this means that she has a miniature right eye in which she is blind. She wears a prosthetic eye-shell to match her left eye and to ensure her face grows evenly, see the pictures above of her without and with her shell with her two older brothers.
Please take a few minutes to read Kara's story on the MACS message board at ww.macs.org.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=216
This is a very rare condition that very few people and even doctors are aware of. MACS does a great job getting this condition and Anopthalmia (no eye or eyes) and coloboma (poor sight) into the public domain and in supporting children and families effected by these conditions, so please support this very worthy cause.
I would like to thank Bankside Health Club www.thebanksidehealthclub.co.uk who have generously given me a subsidised membership and Carl, Kieran and Esther (who is also running for MACS) from my work who have helped me greatly with training advice.
And, I would especially like to thank everyone who has signed up to support me and MACS.
I started training at the end of May 2009, when a 15 minute run was the most I could manage. I have gradually increased this over the weeks and have now run two 20 mile runs. And, have lost over two stone in weight in the progress and am now the lightest I have been since school days (and that was a long, long time ago).
The support we have been receiving is such a great incentive and am really excited to list the following "celebrity" supporters:
Darren Oliver, major league baseball pitcher who has recently moved from last seasons playoff team LA Angels back to the Texas Rangers. Take a look at http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=119984.
Soren Kjeldsen, PGA Golfer who came 11th in Europe last season and is currently 35th in the world and his caddie Woody. See http://www.europeantour.com/publish.sps?pageid=127&pagegid=%7B20E6AA6B%2D0225%2D4C71%2DBD89%2D2ACBEE615D69%7D&playerId=1159.
Rob Elliot, First division Charlton Athletic FC's first team Goalkeeper. See http://www.cafc.co.uk/playerdisplay.ink?skip=6&season=2009/2010.
Jodie Prenger, leading actress in the London West End musical Oliver http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodie_Prenger. Jodie has become a patron of MACS and we met her on 23rd Jan for a TV segment on London Tonight. You can see this by following link www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=264160112638&oid=59143291641.
I really appreciate their interest and hope that their involvement will encourage more people to give their support.
And, again, many thanks for all of you who have already supported us or promised to support us after the run....we have been overwhelmed by your generosity.
Donating through this page is simple, quick and secure. It is the most efficient way to give – so every donation goes further – and if you are a UK taxpayer and give Gift Aid consent the charity will receive an extra 28% at no cost to you.
Thank you for your support.
UPDATE 28 FEB:
28th Feb was the date of the Tonbridge Half Marathon, and a mini-cyclone and floods (a couple of which had to be run through)!
When my friend at work said to enter as he was running I thought, "what a great opportunity"... but I forgot that he is a Triathlete.
Then the program arrived which I sat down eager to read. The first thing I read was "Thank you for entering...one of the South East's leading half marathons". It went on "the course is one of the most testing on the racing calendar". What had I let myself in for? I read on..."includes a few notable hills, among which Spring Hill should be mentioned in particular". At that stage I stopped reading and put it all to the back of my mind.
The morning of the race my friend dropped out...his wife and baby boy are in Chile and he did not want to leave the phone so I was on my own (he has talked to them since the earthquake). All the talk in race HQ was about the hills and I must admit I felt as if I was a total novice looking at the running gear people were wearing and the people warming up so seriously. I sat on the edge of the stage thinking about my normal 3 or 4 minute warm up and what I should wear...I decided I'd stick with my normal thermal top and rain jacket but with my MACS running vest over the top (so I could pin my race number to it rather than to the rain jacket).
I walked to the start (in the driving rain) straight past the projected time markers...then noticed them and had to walk back against the tide of runners...a little embarrassing. Just in front of the "bus of shame" (which picks up the drop outs), I started to think that they may get annoyed with me holding them up., then the starting horn sounded. After what seemed an age, I started and to my surprise I seemed to be passing other runners at will. Was I overdoing it, getting swept up in the race? Didn't think so as I felt good and could talk easily to anyone who would listen (another of my tips from my triathlete friend).
So, running along with nearly 2000 other runners a few miles into the race a voice from behind said "you running for MACS as well?" To my surprise, another runner with a MACS running vest...I was to find out he has a daughter, Hannah, nearly 2 who has a left Micropthalmic eye...my Kara, 19 months, has a right Micropthalmic eye. It was great and our conversation helped get us through a few miles.
Then the dreaded HILL was ahead. I said that I'd best not talk any more and looked straight down at the road, three yards ahead (again, as advised), and just tried to think of anything other than the HILL. The mile plus long hill just went in a blur as I was boosted by passing runner after runner. All I can think is that running at my own pace, whatever distance, has paid off. At the top I felt great but thought back to my advice to run as I train and had to force myself to slow down for a drink (which I have been doing every 3 miles or so).
I finished in 2 hours 5 minutes which works out as 6.3 mph which I have never been close to on a long run before. And, I felt that I could easily have kept going at the same pace.
So, a great confidence boost and looking forward to the end of April.
Thanks again for all of your support, it is really such an incentive.
Running in memory of Ken Chorley 1933-2009.
A message from MACS
MACS (www.macs.org.uk)
was formed in 1993, by a group of parents, all of whom had children with
microphthalmia (small formed eyes), anophthalmia (no eyes) and coloboma
(sight problems). Until then, most of them didn't know of any other children
like their own and children with these conditions did not have the opportunity
to meet each other, support each other and learn from each other.
MACS is helping to change all that.
MACS is a Registered Charity in the UK and is run by volunteer parents
with children who have the eye conditions, and by young people who are directly
affected. None of the committee receives any form of payment for the role and
only claim the costs of minor admin requirements. Mutual support, from people
who know what you are experiencing, either as a parent or young person, is
something that we passionately believe in. That is why the charity is run
entirely by volunteers who understand what is needed.
We have come a long way since our humble beginnings
back in 1993, but know that here is still a lot more to be done, if we are to
achieve better understanding of the eye conditions, to fully support those
affected by these conditions and for their families, and to improve
opportunities for people with Microphthalmia, Anophthalmia, Coloboma and
related eye conditions. The committee are very dedicated and have lots of ideas
for the future to make these aims realities. Without funding these goals cannot
be achieved.
