Inspirational stories help “Mums on the Run!” in the final days of training

We started our breastfeeding peer supporter training this week.   By the time we finish the course in May, we will be qualified to work as peer supporters at the Breast Friends Cafe, which is running every Wednesday (12:30-2:00pm) at the Cherry Trees Children’s Centre.

The peer supporter training course has 4 “Mums on the Run!” team members on it as well:  myself, Jane, Karen and Lucy .  Jo, a peer supporter trainee, was supposed to have been on the team but had to drop out with the very happy excuse of expecting her second child.

As you’ll know from reading my earlier “begging” columns, we’re running to raise money for the NCT Breastfeeding Helpline (0300 330 0771).   As we went ’round the training classroom and introduced ourselves and spoke about our own breastfeeding experiences, it was GREAT to hear what a difference the Helpline has made to so many lives.

Half  (yep, 50%!) of our training group had called the NCT Breastfeeding Helpline in the very early days of motherhood and that ONE PHONE CALL had been the TURNING POINT in the mothers continuing to breastfeed.  You see, the Helpline had put each of the mothers in touch with Merrill Knight (or “Saint Merrill” as we are now going to call her), the Brentwood/Billericay-based NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor.  And Merrill personally visited with each mother and provided essential one-on-one support.

Breastfeeding, though natural, is not always easy. Each mother’s circumstances are different – charities such as the NCT provide that crucial, personal support that mums need in the early days of parenthood.

Hearing about the very direct impact that the NCT Breastfeeding Helpline has made in the lives of so many Brentwood-area mums was SO INSPIRATIONAL.  Thinking about their stories will keep me going during that difficult stretch of the route between miles 7 to 10.

If you haven’t given yet, do you think you could spare £2 – the cost of a cup of coffee – to underwrite the cost of a call to the NCT Breastfeeding Helpline?

-Laurie

http://www.justgiving.com/brentwoodnct

My First Run in a Loooonnnngggg Time….

Last training run DONE!

The 1st mile: Parts like a “spring energised kid”, others good.
The 2nd mile: Parts good and the rest ok.
The 3rd mile!: Everything in it, I really don’t know why I would want to do more than 3….

As I have only done 1 race in my life before, which was the Brentwood Fun Run 7 years ago, I either was very fit or the distance they state is longer than the actual race. I am still hoping that I will be finished after 2 of my miles, thinking that wasn’t too bad….
I have £7 pledged towards our target, for finishing the race “running”! Let’s see…

And Julia is just cool, she seriously believes Mummy could win this race; just as well that she will be there on Sunday to see what it’s like!

-Renate

http://www.justgiving.com/brentwoodnct

Breastfeeding Peer Supporter Training Begins

Today 9 ladies got together for their first training session towards becoming breastfeeding peer supporters. The aim being that we will all be able to support our local breastfeeding cafes. For me, that will be the cafe, newly launched in partnership with the Sure Start children’s centres, at the Cherry Trees Children’s Centre in Knights Way in Brentwood every Wednesday from 12.30pm till 2pm.

This is an exciting development for the NCT in Brentwood as it is something we’ve had on our ‘To Do’ list for quite a while now. So to actually be sitting there today, with 4 other ladies from our committee, was brilliant and gave me a real sense that we are close to achieving our objective.

Whilst there is fantastic support in the area from the dedicated NCT breastfeeding counsellors (available to members and non members alike on 0300 3300771) and a great chance to meet up at the Bumps & Babes group (run by one of our breastfeeding counsellors Tracy, on Thursday afternoons, 1pm till 3pm, at Sawyers Hall Church) it is wonderful that we can now offer even more ways to support mums when breastfeeding. It is something that can be such a different experience for different people and which many people give up on due to a lack of support and guidance. All of us in the room today discussed our own breastfeeding experiences, which not only varied imensely but that I found invaluable as a reminder as to why we need to offer this support. I also left feeling very inspired by the stories I heard.

We shall we fully trained in 3 months time and are looking forward to supporting mums at the cafes. In the meantime we’ll keep you updated with how the training progresses.

If you are interested in becoming a peer supporter yourself then please look on our website at www.nct.org.uk/brentwood for more details.

Six Slow Miles on a Sunny Sunday

Finally, a bit of sunshine for me and Claire!

We did our final “tapering-down” slow run of 6 miles on Sunday.  The sun was out, I had my shades on, and wait for it…wait for it…I took my jacket off halfway around the route and tied it around my waist.  This  is the first time since January that I haven’t had on two layers of gloves, a rain-soaked jacket, thermal shirt,  hat and totally wet/muddy shoes on my feet.

Hurrah!

After our run, Claire and I did a drive around the Half Marathon route.  I’m not sure if this helped Claire or not – I think it might just have scared the cr*p out of her seeing all 13 miles laid out like that.

Personally, I’m feeling nervous, excited, and scared about next Sunday.

But hey – bring it on.  Claire and I can’t do any more training that what we’ve done.   We’re going to be so happy when we cross that finish line  – and that will be because we’ll know we never have to do 13 miles EVER AGAIN 

-Laurie

http://www.justgiving.com/brentwoodnct

Renate & Renee to the Rescue!

Ok convinced, was seriously wondering, if I wanted to get out there now, but reading through that list, I and Renee are the only ones not being “challenged”. So out I go, and try the 3 Miles this time? Not sure…..

[40 minutes later]

Done it! JUUUUST! Now have reasons to be added to the list tooooo (sore knees, shoulders, hip…). Joking, but seriously 3 Miles is more than enough for me, another 10 after that….???? Good on you ladies for taking on that challenge!

Will make more effort in getting the word out, that my effort needs sponsoring!!!

-Renate

http://www.justgiving.com/brentwoodnct

Setbacks & fresh challenges

Our “Mums on the Run!” are struggling this week.  Only 10 days to race day and

• Jenny and Laurie are getting over a “vomiting bug”
• Lucy has seriously injured  her ankle
• Claire’s got a painful blister on her big toe
• Jane’s got tonsillitis
• Karen’s recovering from tooth extraction

Will we all make it to the Finish Line….????

Here’s what’s keeping us going: WE’VE REACHED OUR INITIAL FUNDRAISING TARGET OF £100!!!

So we’ve set ourselves a fresh challenge – can you help us raise an extra £50 in the next ten days?

If 25 people can give  £2 each over the next week and a half we’ll meet the new goal.  Why £2?  This small amount will underwrite the cost of a call to the NCT Breastfeeding Helpline, so that a mum seeking information or a listening ear can get the support she needs from the NCT.

We “Mums on the Run!” are rising to the challenge of training through tough physical conditions.  Can you rise to our challenge of giving £2  to help support the NCT Breastfeeding Helpline?   Seems a fair trade-off, really 

http://www.justgiving.com/brentwoodnct

Well it’s been hotting up in the Chief Supporter, Flask Holder and Childrens’ Nose Wiper camp…..

As Chief Supporter I take my role very seriously and I’ve spent a couple of hours today practising my tea making skills ready for filling the flasks on the day. It’s tiring work but someone’s got to do it! Tomorrow I need to practise the hot water flask and my cheering skills…..

On a more serious note, please support the lovely ladies of the Mums on the Run team. They all have their own reasons for running but are doing a fantastic job. You can support them at http://www.justgiving.com/brentwoodnct

And spare a thought for poor Lucy – injured at the Nearly New Sale, her training plans have been shelved for the time being. We’re hoping her injured ankle will be back in training soon.

Well done ladies!

-Jane