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PfC's Director Races Across America!
To sponsor Eddie, please visit www.justgiving.com/goldengirleddie
On 11th June 2008, Edwina Brocklesby, Parents for Children's Director, will be racing over 3000 miles, through 14 states from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast along with 3 others aged between 55-65 they will be taking part in RAAM (Race Across America), the longest running ultra-distance bicycle endurance competition in the world.
Eddie Brocklesby, Age 65
I was the lucky one! My 54 year old husband was given weeks/ months to live, and we faced, together, an ever divergent path. Three weeks later and I really was the lucky one. What did life offer me – alone, but with three great kids? They took me into their world in a way that hadn’t happened when we were `parents`, and my research in adoption continued. But, my small local running club in Notts was my third and vital lifeline. `just come with us – we’ll talk you up the hills` their support enabled my survival and recovery, way beyond the other therapies on offer. It really was a small, friendly club, so small that they were doomed to close. However their final gesture was to get the club place in the London Marathon and present it to me. Aged 54. I couldn’t let them down .........and I was hooked. I have done London five times now!
A year further down the line, in 1995, I zoomed down the piste, ruptured my cruciate, and was told, again, I was in the lucky third of the population who didn’t need surgery. But, and it was a big but, the medics pronounced that I had to keep my quads and hamstrings strong `forever`. I knew I couldn’t keep running marathons `forever`? So, onto the bike I got, and inspired by one of my sons, I began tri training. OK, I couldn’t swim, and still can’t very well, but I loved the bike! I did my first age group world Duathlon in 2004, and, to my amazement, won my age group. Other long and short distance Duathlon medals have followed.
In 1998 I joined Serpentine Running Club, that non ageist, non genderist, non elitist club, and one of the best support networks I have known. In another part of my life I have worked for over 40 years in child care social work. We social workers can’t change the world, but we do our best for the most disadvantaged and abused children. Work is ever challenging but has some rewards. Currently I am the Director of a small, pioneering and innovative 30 year old charity who assess children with very special needs, and then set out to find that right family for them. I became aware that there is a new, increasing group of 21st century children with very special needs that are rarely diagnosed or recognised - those permanently brain damaged or otherwise affected by their mothers binge drinking or drug usage in pregnancy. I am passionate about optimising the future of these children, and campaigning to lessen the incidence of chldren with a grim disability that is 100% preventable. We need to raise funds to survive, and recently organised a successful Five2go trail marathon. The next will be Four2go in 2008 with a triathlon too.
Why RAAM
I crewed in 2005 for a team, Just Sweat, No Tears – I followed those cyclist, night and day, at a distance of 4 metres, with awe, and not a little envy, and recognised that coping with sleep deprivation, or having the ability to sleep wherever and whenever was crucial. I remember, all too vividly the demands on the riders and the crew. I know that exercise and sport, beginning as I did as a 50 year old has transformed my life. I want to influence, and inspire other older women, and I believe an `older women’s` team will provide that extra encouragement to others to benefit in a similar way – to participate, or push their own boat out just that bit further.
Can I do it?
I am not sure, but the more recent years of training has convinced me that I need a goal. I hit the new 65-70 age group this year, so the training won’t be wasted. I have many doubts – I am the oldest in the group, am not sure I have enough time, so training will have to be quality not quantity, but I really, really want to do it. I am determined to cut my work down to 4 days a week by the end of February. So therein, together with a team identity lies my motivation!
To read more about RAAM and Serpentine's Golden Girls, please visit www.sggdoraam.org.uk