Gareth John's Blog

Chasing Pavements (Part 20!)

Why?!

That’s the question you tend to get asked most when people discover you’re taking part in the Marathon. And, just as there will be 50,000 runners pounding the streets of London on Sunday, there will also be 50,000 different reasons for those brave (if also slightly mad) people being there.

For me, I shall once again be running for SANDS, the Stillborn Baby Charity. Two of my best friends suffered the tragedy of a stillbirth in 2006. Megan was their first child. By now I guess she would have been getting excited about the prospect of nursery school. She would also have probably been throwing some obligatory spectacular 2 year olds’ tantrums! It wasn’t to be. It’s just not right, is it?

Jane & Chris have shown courage and strength beyond words to pull their lives together. Personally, I don’t know how a parent can even begin to come to terms with this kind of loss. They’re an inspiration. The support they give each other is incredible, as is the support they give to their friends who so often just don’t know what to say.

SANDS are the charity that helped Jane & Chris pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. Just as they do, quietly and sensitively for the 17 families in the UK per day who lose a child at birth or in the early stages of infancy. They are the charity which Chris ∧ Jane nominated when I said I’d like to run the Marathon.

And so, here I am again. Getting ready to take my place alongside the other 50,000 runners, rhinos, pantomime camels, bananas, Massai Warriors and Gordon Ramsay! Everyone has their own special reason for being there on Sunday. Something to push them on when the legs are weary and the knees are sore. I shall have Megan. She’ll get me round. A little life that was never given the chance to flourish. But a little life that continues to inspire.

Bless you Megan.

Gx

Read more about SANDS, the Stillborn Baby Charity here: www.uk-sands.org

Check on my latest fundraising total here: www.justgiving.com.gareth_john

Posted by Gareth John on April 10, 2008 at 09:18AM

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