Riding 100 Miles: For a very special reason

"Mum's on Box Hill again!"
Over the past few months, aside from holidays and breaks for illness I have swapped my regular running and swimming training for long rides on my road bike out into the beautiful Surrey Hills, always fitting in a coffee and flapjack in the cafe at the top of Box Hill . That is the point in my ride where I inevitably get a text from one of my children asking where I am and what time I will be home as there's no food in the house....
On Sunday 29th I will be taking part in the Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100. It's a 100 mile bike ride through London, out into the Surrey hills and back again. "Why, oh,why are you doing that Steph?" you are probably saying to yourselves.
Well it comes down to a medal. And not any medal, it's the coveted London Classics Medal.
picture of the gold london classics medal with gold ribbon

Launched last year, the London Classics medal is awarded to people who have achieved the three premier London-based endurance challenges; the London Marathon, the 2 Mile Swim Serpentine event and Ride London 100.
Well having two out of three in the bag I couldn't resist going for the big one, adding Ride London 100 to my CV and receiving that big piece of extra bling in the bargain (together with the Ride London medal).

Daisy hugging steph who is wearing a black baseball cap and has a medal around her neck
Daisy loved to see my medals. She was my biggest fan. She cheered me on in countless races and when she could not be there she loved to inspect my medals once I got home. She would have loved to see this new, extra-large medal and hear the story I would tell about my exploits going up the hills very slowly and down the hills very fast. I would always have to put a funny spin on the story, I would probably tell her about how the water bottle flew off my bike last Sunday as I hit a pothole in the road while going far to fast downhill.

steph posing with her bike at the top of Box Hill in Surrey

I didn't get a place in the ballot for Ride London but as always our beloved hospice ShootingStar-Chase came up with the goods and offered me a place. And as always I will not only dedicate my race to Daisy, tucking a daisy into my hair in the morning so that she is with me, but I will use it as an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for the place that walked beside us every step of Daisy's twelve years.
ShootingStar-Chase were there from the beginning of our journey with Daisy, giving us much needed respite breaks, emotional and practical support at time when we were drowning and overwhelmed. They were there when Andy was diagnosed with terminal cancer and at the end of Daisy's life they were there to help us pick up the pieces. All of the support that was given to us was free and yet the hospice, just like all the children's hospices in the UK, receives minimal guaranteed government funding for it's services. Services which support the sickest and most fragile children in the UK for however much time they have.

So, on Sunday I will ride, not just for my extra big medal, but also for Daisy and for the thousands of life-limited children in the UK who are not expected to reach adulthood but rely on children's hospice services to ensure that their lives, however short, are the best that they can be.
Here's the link, it's the same one as always, the one I set up when Daisy died. Wouldn't it be brilliant if we could hit a nice round figure?
JustGiving - Sponsor me now!

It's going to be hot on Sunday, it's going to be hard work but as always nothing compares to the daily challenges Daisy always faced with a smile.And of course there's the medal, I have to get that medal for her!










Happy Birthday you imperfect, beautiful thing #NHS70

Happy 70th Birthday to the NHS.

To me you are like a favourite aunt, cantankerous, imperfect but full of love and always there when you need them.



I truly believe that without the NHS we would not have had twelve wonderful years with Daisy.

NHS doctors and nurses cared for me when I was so poorly and pregnant with her.  She was scanned and monitored and eventually the decision was made to deliver her by caesarian section.

To dance like no-one is watching....

There's been so much going on here, I just have not had time to update my blog, as always though I walk around with my head brimming with words and ideas.  It's just that the paid-for words have to take precedence over my own personal musings!

The most important news is that we hit the Kickstarter target for my new children's book "Goodbye Daisy".  It's all systems go now and I'm delighted to be working with both Hashtag Press and the supremely talented illustrator Helen Braid to turn this very important dream into reality.  I want to make sure that when a child with a learning disability dies, the friends they leave behind have a book that will help them with the feelings of grief and loss that they struggle with.  At the moment publication is pencilled in for late autumn.  The sad fact is that children with additional needs are more likely to die during the winter months so it was important for me that this book was available in time.

For those who haven't seen the cover reveal on my social media channels, here it is

front cover of the book Goodbye Daisy showing a picture of daisy smiling while sat in her wheelchair with her arms outstretched

I really feel that Helen has captured Daisy's joy and determination!  The book will be available for pre-order in September, I will also be setting up a Goodbye Daisy website listing resources and support available for parents, carers and professionals supporting a learning disabled child through grief.

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