Nicky Needs a Hand

Just over a year ago, I decided to have a go at a Sprint Triathlon, a relatively short distance event, but still something of a challenge even if you have a good level of fitness (which I didn’t!). I have to admit to quite enjoying the experience despite the torture of completing the event and since then I’ve done a few more, mainly of a similar distance and along the way I’ve joined a local triathlon club where I met Nicky.

Nicky is without a doubt, one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met.  She is always positive, happy, and helpful (and a little bit crazy) and all of this despite some pretty severe personal challenges.

She had a car accident in 1999 whilst in her early 20s and suffered injuries leading to her right arm being completely paralysed.  Since then she has had more operations than you’d ever wish for and suffers chronic pain from the phantom limb.  Phantom because just over a year ago she elected to have the paralysed limb amputated on discovering that there was a chance to have a new type of prosthesis which could be controlled by thought.  The only drawback was that the new limb would have to be self-funded and this technology does not come cheap.  She has been fund raising herself since the amputation, taking part in triathlon's despite the obvious challenges, especially to swimming and cycling with only one functional arm. 


However, it’s a slow process to get to the £30,000+ she needs so here’s where I hoped I could help.

My latest challenge to myself is to take the triathlons to a whole different level.  I’ve entered Ironman Estonia.  Triathlon’s come in short, middle and long distance and this is very much the latter.  It starts with a 3,800m swim in Open Water, then 112 miles on the bike followed by running a full marathon.  That’s about 8 times the length of the Sprint Triathlons which take me around 1½ hours.  You can do the maths I’m sure but even with a lot of training over the next year I’ll be going for at least 12 hours, probably a fair bit longer.

I’ll be giving up quite a lot of my time in the lead up to August 2019 and yes it’s something from which I will get a real sense of achievement for myself, but in doing so if I can help Nicky out along the way wouldn’t that be so much more worthwhile? With this prosthesis there are so many things she would be able to do for herself that you and I just take for granted.   If you agree then please donate whatever you can on here – any donations large or small will help get Nicky to her goal of independence sooner.  She is such a good person and after all these years she deserves that so much.  

Thank you.
Jem