Brave or Foolish?

**If you read no other post, please read this one!**

Today marks the Proper Launch of my bid to raise the £1,300 I need for the Miscarriage Association – I am not even halfway yet. I am running the marathon NEXT MONTH, everyone!!

If you were intending to sponsor me before the race, now would be a good time! More than anything else, it would be nice to not have to worry in the final few weeks about hitting my target. Of course if you are only planning on sponsoring me when I finish, I can totally understand!

Any amount would be wonderful – you don’t have to sponsor a lot – a few dollars or pounds all helps.

I would also be extremely grateful if you spread the word as well, whether posting a link to this post (or my blog at http://www.braveorfoolish.org.uk) to Facebook, Livejournal or indeed anywhere. If you prefer you could spread my JustGiving sponsorship page link at http://justgiving.com/barnpops instead. Or even my Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/BraveOrFoolish. Any of these would be absolutely wonderful.

A few people have offered to pass forms around their friends or at their workplace instead. I have put together a pack with some of the words from this post and the sponsorship forms. You can download the sponsorship pack here. Thank you so much!!

I’d like to remind everyone that JustGiving not only supports all credit/debit cards, but also PayPal. Having a different currency to the UK shouldn’t stop you from donating!

And here’s a reminder of what it’s all about:

My name is Rosanna, and I am going to run the Virgin London 2010 Marathon on behalf of the Miscarriage Association.

Running the Movember 10K last year, hence the “moustache”!
** Official photo (c) IES Photography

During 2008, I spent 4 months on strict bedrest (flat on my back for most of it) and confined to a wheelchair when I was out and about. And for much of the rest of the year and half of 2009, I was hardly active.. completely unfit in fact. In July 2009 I started my training for the London Marathon 2010. Why on earth would I want to do that??

Well, I will be running for a charity, a charity that means a lot to me. I always knew I wanted to do it for charity, but I wasn’t sure which one. Then last year whilst watching the runners go by, I spotted the charity I knew would be the right one – The Miscarriage Association.

I’ve had two first trimester losses, and here in the UK you get a leaflet from the charity with some lovely kind and helpful words on it along with the Box of Tissues proffered rather sadly by the doctor bearing the sad news. It was good to get something besides the usual clinical literature from the hospital – this was something more personal and caring. What struck me was the words on the outside of the leaflet: “We are sorry that you have had a miscarriage”.

The Miscarriage Association helps by providing information and support when it’s most needed in many ways. They have a telephone helpline as well as email support. They produce many leaflets to help parents, which are handed out in hospitals. Their site has excellent information. They also work with hospitals and medical staff to help deliver good practice when dealing with a loss. And finally, they also work to raise awareness of the facts and feelings of pregnancy loss, for instance when miscarriage is represented on television or other media. In the words of the charity:

“We know that miscarriage can be a very unhappy, frightening and lonely experience. If you have been affected by the loss of a baby in pregnancy, whether recently or long ago, we hope that you will find here support, information and comfort.“

Wanting to raise money for this charity isn’t so much for me, as I have dealt reasonably well with my losses, but for my friends – many of whom have far more tragic tales than mine to tell – and for anyone who has or will suffer the loss of a baby in this way. Supporting the Miscarriage Association means supporting parents going through this ordeal. And educating the NHS better on dealing with losses – the care is so very variable, sadly.

There is a further reason for choosing the Miscarriage Association. I was told to expect to lose my youngest daughter when a routine scan revealed I had an incompetent cervix at 18 weeks. I had emergency surgery, but there were no guarantees – I was told it would be really good luck to make it to 24 weeks, and every doctor I have spoken to thinks it is a miracle I kept her safe until 35 weeks. I lived hour by hour for those long months of lonely bedrest with that very real fear of losing her. We had a happy ending, but during those early non-viable months especially, it brought it home to me all the more for those for whom there is not a happy ending and we are so very blessed she is here and healthy. I can’t save those babies, but I can sure as heck try my best to help those parents who will not be as lucky. This challenge is my way of doing that. From strict bedrest to a Marathon. And why not?

If you want to read more about my story and my training so far, please see the links to the right.

Please considering sponsoring me for this Challenge and spreading the word. Miscarriage is a very taboo subject, and as a result The Miscarriage Association does not get as much support as it deserves – it is a small charity. Your sponsorship will go a lot further, in fact income from sponsorship makes up more than a quarter of The M.A.’s £200,000 annual budget . This is another reason I am determined to raise as much as possible for them.

If you are a UK taxpayer and Gift Aid whatever you give, you’re adding another 28% to the charity without it costing you a thing.

Take a look at the figures and see what your money can do:

£5 pays for sending out a pack of 5 information leaflets on miscarriage facts and feelings

£17 pays for helpline support and a leaflet pack for one person

£20 means staff can send leaflet packs to four people

£36 will staff the helpline for an hour (responding to 2 to 4 requests for help)

£50 is one hour’s outreach costs, telling 10 nurses, midwives or doctors about The M.A.

£100 will enable The M.A. to train a new support volunteer

£250 pays for a training session for GPs or hospital doctors

£500 means they can send leaflet packs to 100 people

£1,000 will cover the cost of researching, writing and producing a new information leaflet

You can find out more about the charity and what it does and the information it provides over at http://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk

Finally a huge thank you to the recent generosity of Elizabeth, Amy and Squeezypaws (wow!) for your very kind donations.. very much appreciated indeed!