Earlier this year, I wrote about the kindness of strangers. Being sponsored by people who I'd never met before was an overwhelming feeling; recognition of my efforts by someone who has no unconditional reason to do so gave me a huge boost.
I expected it to be a one off. I was wrong.
My running buddy and I ran Crowborough 10k recently, and both of us were given £5 for our charities by a lady we were chatting to on the walk back to the car. I felt incredibly guilty and worried that I had come across as grabby; L was wearing her charity vest and I wasn't so it was this that had spurred the conversation. L had been given the money first and I'm not sure now if I started the next part of the conversation which led to me being given the same. Anyway, I was a bit embarrassed yet hugely grateful.
I was reading a few posts on Great Ormond Street's Facebook page this week, and it reminded me of my days as a Nurse where I did my share of the unsocial hours and holidays at work. Sometimes it felt like more than my fair share. I hated being away from my loved ones at special times of the year. I clearly remember driving to my first night shift after getting married; I cried as I drove because I just didn't want to be anywhere other than at home. My thoughts turned to the children who will be inpatients over Christmas, not just at GOSH but everywhere. The Christmas shifts weren't actually that bad once you were there. The rules relaxed ever so slightly, and while the basics still had to be done, these were the days when you didn't feel as pressured and could sit with the patients a while longer in an effort to make their Christmas slightly more bearable. Hospital is a horrible place to be on any day of the week, but the stereotype of families around a table tucking into turkey and the trimmings makes the draw of home so much stronger.
Sensibly, I talked to my husband before launching myself into another great idea. I needed his full support for this, and as I talked through my plan he barely batted an eyelid. Must be love... My fundraising needed a boost, and there are only so many ways I can ask for money. Aware of the purse-hitting season which is upon us, I didn't want to ask for too much, so we settled on 50p per minute of running on Christmas Day in honour of the NHS Staff and children in hospital with no choice to go home and be with their loved ones. I hoped that a few friends and family wouldn't mind giving me a shiny 50p for the meter (oh, happy memories of running up to my Nana's house to fetch 50p for the meter), but I followed Paul's advice and capped the distance at 8 miles. I thought it was totally unnecessary, but went with it. The Festive Run was launched by a simple Facebook post, which I shared as widely as possible.
I was totally astonished when the donations started coming in within minutes of posting. I needed to go no further than my own page, and the formidable women of the Run Mummy Run online community. What astonished me was that I wasn't being sponsored 50p. Support from family who are afar, and I don't see often enough, was beyond generous. Their messages of encouragement mean more to me than they will ever know. When I left my home town in 1997, I didn't think anyone would notice that I wasn't there anymore. The geographical distance between us can make me feel invisible and removed from the extended family which was the definition of my childhood. These words on a screen somehow draw them closer, they make me feel a part of them.
I checked my emails the next morning, and one after another, JustGiving popped up. Not one or two messages of support with donations to my fundraising for GOSH, but lots. And lots. Some of the names I knew - family and friends. Many names were new to me, and I am glad that these kind people had thought to put keywords into their messages for me to know that they were part of Run Mummy Run, and had read my post on the Facebook group. Not one donation was 50p, they were all pounds. How do I ever communicate to them how grateful I am? How do I ever say thank you? I had got to about £230 so far with the fundraising, which is a fabulous amount to hand over to GOSH, but in three short days these wonderful people have taken the total to over £290. Wow. I am well on my way to my target of £1000.
Having just watched the inspirational Jo Pavey get a respectable third place in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, I know exactly how to say thank you to each and every one of my family, friends, and the Run Mummy Run ladies.
I'll just keep running.
No comments:
Post a Comment