A group of eight novice triathletes are currently hard at work training for the Driffield Triathlon in aid of Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, and Abbie’s Fund.
This event is taking place in and around the Driffield Sports Centre on 18th May 2014.
Romina Lewak lost one of her twin babies in November 2012. Baby Joseph was stillborn after health staff could not detect a heartbeat in a routine appointment to set a date for inducement. His twin sister Kasia fell seriously ill at one week old but thankfully survived.
After receiving support from both Sands and Abbie’s Fund, who she says ‘helped me the most in my darkest hour’, she decided to take on this challenge, in memory of her son, to raise funds and awareness of stillbirths and neonatal deaths.
After mentioning it to family and friends she gained their support very quickly. Mica Hallett & Chris Yeaman, Martin Keogh, Michelle (Micky) Bird, Denislava Horozova, Gareth Willis and Nikki Brooks all stepped forward to help and they became the ‘Triathlonamateurs’. Some are bereaved parents themselves, who also received support from Sands and Abbie’s fund.
Mica and Chris will be competing in memory of their beautiful daughter Bethanie who was stillborn on 17th March 2013, and Martin in memory of his beautiful son Dylan who was born sleeping in September 2011.
Mica and Chris have also raised money alongside the training for this triathlon by using an exercise bike at Matalan during every weekend in March in their daughter’s memory and Micky organised a cake sale over Easter, all to raise extra funds.
In order to complete their mammoth fundraising task they will all have to complete a 400m swim, followed by an 18km scenic bike ride with some steady climbs and finally a multi lap run. To keep the group going they will be cheered on by a meet and greet support team which will include a representative from East Riding of Yorkshire council.
“Stillbirth is such a taboo subject but even though I wish with all my heart that we had both of our babies at home; I’m not ashamed to say I have two children, one at home and one looking down from the heavens above. I’d like to, along with my team mates, raise awareness of stillbirths and neonatal deaths and the brilliant work that both Sands and Abbie’s fund do each day. We are all going to do our best to complete this triathlon in our children’s memories and the memories of all the lost children,” Romina Lewak.
For further information about the event please visit: http://www.freebirdevents.co.uk/driffield-triathlon-2014/event-home/
Notes to editors
The Driffield Triathlon will take place on Sunday 18th May 2014 at 8.30am at the Driffield Leisure Centre Bridlington Road Driffield YO25 5HZ.
For more information, please contact Natalie Cooper, Sands Press & PR Officer, on 0203 598 1959, e: Natalie.cooper@uk-sands.org.