Race for Grace
My sister Elley and I are competing for Amazing Grace and Ward 84 at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
I’m sure by the end of reading it you will be thinking we’ve lost the plot but that’s what I thought when I drove passed Sir Kevin Sinfield every day when he was doing his marathons – I keep saying ‘If Kevin can do SEVEN consecutively then maybeee maybe maybe / definitely with lots of training and determination we will be able to make it across the Manchester Marathon finish line by October’. (I say that with so much hope that we’re not last and they’ve packed up for the day).
The reason we are raising money for RMCH & Ward 84 is because a school friend of Darceys (my daughter) was diagnosed with a rare form of incurable brain cancer in December 2019, then aged 5, Graces world turned upside down!
Following on from her initial biopsy Grace suffered an almost fatal bleed on the brain and was left paralysed in intensive care over the following 6 months.
She’s the strongest and bravest person I know, now aged 7 she has managed to fight through endless treatments and major operations and got the news from her MIR last year that there is no sign of disease (however due to the form of cancer, it could return) BUT if it does, Grace will kick its butt!
Honestly I can’t even begin to explain how Grace has the ability to light up the room and give everyone a sense of ‘I can bloody well do anything’… so much so she inspired me to jump out of a plane last year when I did my ‘Leap of Faith for Amazing Grace’ skydive and raised over 1k for the ward.
I just really want to continue to support the hospital and make sure they have the funds to continue to look after our Grace and so many other children in them unimaginable positions.
This year… Me and Elley have signed up to the Manchester Marathon (prior to the last 3 weeks we had never ran further than 5k and that was only once or twice – not including running to and from the fridge in lockdown)
In order to train and be ready for the Marathon we have pledged to Grace that we will run 500k by the end of October. The distance from Greenfield to Calais and also take part in the following events:
• 20th Feb – UNITED we run Manchester Virtual 10k
• 12th May – Chase the Sun Heaton Park 10k
• 1st May – 22k for the Hive22 Run to Remember Virtual Race (We’re running around Saddleworth)
• 22nd May – 22 Mile run for the Arena Victims’ Families Charities Virtual Event (We’re running around Saddleworth)
• 24th June – Run Through Media City 10k
• 5th September – Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Salford 10k
• 10th October – THE BIG ONE – The Manchester Marathon
As I know it isn’t just me and Elley who want to support Grace and the hospital I have just launched the virtual running event ‘Race for Grace’ and designed Graces very own medal.
The aim is for people to sign up, set their own walking or running challenge, complete their own individual challenge and receive the most precious medal of all! The £15 sign up fee is the money which goes to charity and no one is expected to be sponsored. Something the whole family can do together!
I have set up a Facebook page called ‘Race for Grace’ where everyone can share their photos so Grace gets to see just how important she is to us all.
Or if you’d just like to donate please go here – Donate
Thank you so so much for reading this Friday essay,
Nicole & Elley
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Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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