Effie Nicol

100k Reached!

When I decided to join up to the Premmie Marathon Challenge I thought of it as a way I could make a difference to others. As I have noted earlier, I have known many people – family, friends, clients – who have had premature babies and I know what a challenge that can be. With more funding, there can be more research into what causes premature births and how they can be prevented, as well as more understanding of how best to care for premmie babies.

I am incredibly grateful for all the generous donations people have made (not just to me but to all the challenge participants) and it makes me happy to have raised awareness about this cause.

However, there have been other, unexpected, benefits to this challenge. Personally, I knew the challenge of running 100k in one month was going to be tough because I have a very time-consuming job as a mortgage broker – it’s definitely more than just 9-5.

Setting myself this challenge was a way to be more disciplined and also to show what you can achieve when you set your mind to a goal.

It has also been really good for my fitness. I have noticed a difference already with running a few ks each day. That has also had a positive impact on my mental health. Running gives me a chance to clear my mind every day and let go of the stresses that come with my busy work life.

I’ve enjoyed the experience so much that I’ve started recommending to my friends and family that they start running too. I truly believe that exercise can make a real difference to our physical and mental fitness and I’m spreading the word to get more people to give it a try.

At the halfway point of the month, I’ve already reached the 100k through the challenge. But I’ve decided that even when I reach the 100k mark I’m still going to keep running and raising money. And in my purple Premmie shirt I know I’ll continue to be spreading the word about this important cause!  

Caring for others while caring for myself

As you may be aware, caring for others – family, friends, clients – is something I take very seriously and I find it incredibly rewarding to give back. However, sometimes I think it’s important to do something for yourself. This year I wanted to give myself a personal challenge to work towards making a difference.

During lockdown to everyone’s surprise I have taken out the running shoes and yes – I’ve decided to take part in the Premmie Marathon Challenge 2021 – Ultramarathon!

I’ll be running 100 kms over November to raise funds for life-saving equipment and groundbreaking research that give critically ill and premature babies a better chance of survival. I’d really appreciate any support you can kindly give to this really important cause.