50th Year Challenges for RockingHorse Appeal

As I approach the start of my 50^th year I wanted to find a way to raise some funds for the RockingHorse Appeal that support the Royal Alex Hospital in Brighton.

Virginmoneygiving.com/andrewfountain1

On 2^nd September 1994 my first son Eddie was born, unfortunately he had a condition that meant his mouth wasn’t connected to his stomach so could not feed. This meant that at only a few hours old he was in Surgery to repair his Oesophagus.

This was a very worrying time for Amanda and myself as first time parents seeing our baby in intensive care after such major surgery:

Thanks 

The Surgeon, Doctors and Nurses at the Royal Alex were absolutely fantastic and did whatever they could to re-assure us that Eddie would be OK.

Over the first year of his life Eddie had many more operations due to the scar tissue on his oesophagus constricting and needing to be stretched, then if that was not enough Eddie decided he was going to have pyloric stenosis as well that needed surgical intervention.

Eddie’s first birthday was spent going back and forth to the hospital to have a tube that was inserted into his stomach, which was used to feed him, looked at due to an issue. Eventually we took it out and had to feed him as a normal baby!

Eddie’s final visit to the Royal Alex, now in its new home, was as a 6ft child prior to being transferred to the care of the Princess Royal as an adult

Finally he was discharged from the medical care and although he still gets reflux a bit and can be seen pushing his throat when he is eating shows no lasting ill effects of his condition.

So I am taking on some challenges to raise funds for the hospital as my way of saying thanks, albeit a very small way given what the hospital gave us!

Challenges so far

10/09/2017 Surrey Bacchus Marathon
16/09/2017 Swim Serpentine London Classics

23/09/2017 The Gauntlet Half Iron Triathlon 

22/10/2017 Abingdon Marathon
04/02/2019 Winter run 10k London

25/02/2018 Brighton Half Marathon

25/03/2018 London Landmarks Half Marathon

15/04/2018 BrightonMarathon
22/04/2018 London Marathon

17/06/2018 Lakesman Triathlon (Thanks Mum & Dad)

13 - 15/07/2018 Long CourseWeekend Wales (Thanks Terry)
08 - 16/09/2018 Ride Across Britain (Lands End to John O Groats) (Thanks Cycling Plus)

I am hoping to add extra events throughout the year but entry fees have mounted so far and not sure how many more I can afford, so if anyone knows any organisers that are willing to donate or discount entry I would be more than happy to hear from them.

I did manage to take advantage of the volunteer for entry scheme for my entry to the Gauntlet thanks to Castle Triathlon, having marshalled and both days of their Hever Castle weekend events last year so thank you for that Castle Triathlon

If anyone would be able to spare a couple of quid to chuck in the pot for the Rocking Horse appeal please visit virginmoneygiving.com/andrewfountain1

Thanks

Andy