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Triathlon in aid of FMA UK

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Category: Fundraising

Published on Monday, 19 May 2008 22:49

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I can’t honestly say I felt any more resolve or purpose than the many other times I’d tried to cut out nice food and instead eat cardboard and warm water, but for some reason this time I stuck at it, perhaps because this time there was a cause that wasn’t just about me!  I combined it with an exercise plan derived from some book, and then just built everything up (except the quantities of cardboard and water) eventually losing many stones in a short period of time. 

Of course the aforementioned (and less grumpy by half) nurse was on-hand to monitor things, and now, 10-months or so on I’m several stone lighter and 4-weeks off competing in my first Triathlon, which, of course, is in aid of FMA UK.

So in just a few weeks, I shall be travelling to Blenheim Palace, armed only with a wetsuit so tight it looks (and indeed feels) painted on, a silly hat, and a bike so old it pre-dates the penny farthing.  I’ll also, I hope, be armed with lots of FMA UK flyers, and perhaps a few willing folks to wear the t-shirts, hand out the flyers, and rattle some buckets!  I’m one of the fortunate ones in that I have objective evidence that certain activities and treatments will benefit my condition.  With diabetes, there is a plethora of information, a great network of care, a support organisation with a high profile and a known base of approved pharmaceuticals to control the issues.  Each week we hear of potential advancements in treatment, all of which is encouraging.

At the current time, this isn’t the case with FM, and that clearly has to change.  In a small way, I hope that the money we raise as part of this effort, and perhaps the whole idea of doing it, will contribute towards raising the awareness of this condition both generally and medically. 

And that’s not the end of it.  Next year, all being well, I’m hiking the Coast to Coast walk, spreading the word on FM from East to West!