Charity
Small Steps is a pre-school support service for babies and children under 4 years of age who have physical disabilities. Children attend structured sessions addressing all areas of their development. Parents are hands-on with their children and learn to help their child, directed and supported by a professional staff team including physiotherapists, teachers and conductors.
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small steps sprinters fundraising page
Stop press! Update from the Small Steps Triathletes....!
Well, the big day was yesterday! And what a buzz! We are aching almost all over (perhaps Andy and me a little more than Marie Claire!) but relishing reliving the amazing atmosphere of the event; all the teams and participants and wonderful causes and the flocks of brilliant supporters and the excitement and apprehension and sweat and giddyness!
After a nail biting, adrenaline-inducing, down to the wire late arrival at the venue by the Darbyshires (sorry Marie Claire!) I hared into the dock with seconds to spare until the starting whistle blew and managed the swim in 25 minutes. Andy cycled the next leg a storm in just under 50 minutes and MC ran away with the run in 34 minutes! Go team Small Steps!
Massive thanks to Anita, Anthea, Franci, Michael, Sue, Mike, Will, James and Alfie for cheering us on so avidly and to all of you who were willing us on from wherever you were yesterday - your warm, encouraging and generous support of us and of Small Steps is humbling. Thank you. Pics to be uploaded to this site imminently so please keep checking (we even got medals for those who still can't quite believe Andy and I were involved in something sporty....!)
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Earlier this year Andy and I volunteered (rashly some would say) to participate in the London Triathlon. OK, we admit, it's not the olympic distance one it's the mini 'sprint' version the day before but this will still be a challenge for our creaky under utilised 40 something physiques! Luckily our younger, fitter friend Marie Claire has offered to do the running portion of the event. Andy is hopping on his bike and I will be donning a wet suit and joining the mash of swimmers thrashing around in the Thames!
Our inspiration is the wonderful Small Steps which Alfie has been attending weekly since September 2009 and his friend Lia, Marie Claire's daughter, since Spring 2010. Small Steps was set up in 1998 to help babies and children with motor difficulties (floppy muscles and loose joints in Alfie and Lia's case) and/ or sensory impairments. Their work is based on the principles of 'conductive education', which originated in Hungary in the 1950s, and consists of a loving and dedicated team of physiotherapists, 'conductors', teachers and administrators.
Alfie and Lia have come on in 'giant leaps' under the care and expertise of this passionate team and Andy, Marie Claire, Eric and I are amongst the many parents who have felt their support and kindness through the ups and downs of raising a child with special needs. They share both our challenges and our joys and are always there to give advice, lend equipment or a sympathetic ear.
And they are tireless fundraisers, often toiling in their spare time to try and drum up the £240,000 a year that Small Steps needs to carry on providing weekly classes to more than 50 children who often would not get nearly enough support otherwise. Small Steps receive no state funding at all and rely totally on donations from people like you to carry on with their sterling work.
Thank you so much for supporting Small Steps and children like Alfie and Lia. Please see pics of Alfie and Lia in action below!
Thanks for visiting our page. Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor us and donations will be quickly processed and passed to charities. Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity's behalf where the donor is eligible for this. We really appreciate all your support and thank you for any donations.
Recent donors
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Brollo-Lessing £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 21.10.11 Finally got round to looking at this. Really lovely and well done. You are all brilliant! |
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Roland, Sam, Ben and Sophie £15.00 (+ £3.75 giftaid) 31.08.11 Congratulations guys! Great effort. |
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Alison Press £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 20.08.11 Dear Jules, Andy and MC I am so ashamed this is sooo late but better late than never and nice to add to the phenomenal total already achieved .. how impressive and what an amazing school Small Steps is. Much love Ali Simon Jack Press xx |
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Gloria Saliba £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 10.08.11 Sorry..it's a bit late! but better late than never! Well done..such a good cause! Hope you hit target! All the best Gloria x |
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Oma Jill £50.00 04.08.11 |
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Julian dos £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 31.07.11 Sorry we are late. Well done, we were thinking of you whilst sipping cocktails by the pool! Xx Julian, Jacqui, Charlotte and Leo |
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Anita £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 31.07.11 Phew! And double Phew! Three Cheers for Team Small Steps Sprinters! So glad you all made it! Well done you! Now .. take rest of the summer off! XX |
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Victoria and Jamie (Pearson) £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 30.07.11 hope it went well today! what a fantastic cause! xxx |
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Rob & Heidi £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 29.07.11 Good luck everyone. hope you have a great day. |
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Mel £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 29.07.11 Good luck! Hope the throat has cleared up Jules and you haven't passed the buck to Andy :) Will toast a Pims to you all tomorrow. x |
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Jo Hatch £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 29.07.11 Good luck |
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Olivia (from Small Steps) and her family £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 28.07.11 Good luck to you all!! |
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Richard Morris £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 28.07.11 I would love to have been able to watch-it would have been so good to see Andy move-Richard M |
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Aunty Charli £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 28.07.11 Good Luck! You guys are great and I wish you all the best xxxx |
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Alison Welsh £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 25.07.11 Good Luck Marie-Claire, glad to be supporting such a great charity! |
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Claire Sandell £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 25.07.11 All the best! |
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Franci £10.00 25.07.11 Don't worry..it'll all be over soon: u can then get back to the sweets Julia (not mine though); Andy can get back to the pints! In Bocca Al Lupo..in the wolf's mouth to u all..we want to cheer u on so let us know where n when! |
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Celia timms £20.00 24.07.11 Good on ya! Picture Mark cavendish when your thighs are burning |
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Mark, Andrea, Laura & Jack Garnham £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 21.07.11 Good Luck to you all! |
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Jec £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 16.07.11 Never thought I would be saying the words triathlon, Julia and Andy in the same sentence! Have had the priviledge of watching darling Alfie develop through Small Steps, an amazing organisation. Good luck you crazy fools - don't break a leg. |
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Lesley R £15.00 (+ £3.75 giftaid) 15.07.11 Enjoy and go for it !! |
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Lesley Cole £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 14.07.11 Good luck to you all and have a great day. |
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Alex Imbeaux £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 14.07.11 I'm impressed Andy! Good luck to the team. |
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Mike Darbyshire £100.00 (+ £25.00 giftaid) 12.07.11 I think you are all mad - and I know that Andy & Julia are not fit, though I do noit know about Marie-Claire! Good luck to you all - I hope you survive the trip. |
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Justin Dillingham £30.00 (+ £7.50 giftaid) 09.07.11 Good luck!! Leigh and Justin |
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Neale F £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 09.07.11 need to see the mankini pics................ |
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Miguel & Sue £25.00 07.07.11 Que cojones teneis! Great cause. Good luck! x |
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Cathy Summerhill £20.00 06.07.11 Well done MC and what an amazing little school for Lia! |
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Dave, Alison, Oliver & Nathan Salmon £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 05.07.11 Good Luck - hope it all goes well |
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Audrey B £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 05.07.11 A very deserving cause. I wish you all the very best for 30th July |
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Sarah Ramsay £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 04.07.11 Good, GOOD LUCK!!! Loads of love Sarah, Rob, Lucy, Emma, Tom and Sam xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
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Sandrine Girelli £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 02.07.11 How very brave! I hope you enjoy the day and especially the rest afterwards. Very best wishes. |
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Justin £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 01.07.11 Sounds like good preparation for 2012 Olympics. 3 Gold medals already! Best of luck.. |
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chris penstone £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 30.06.11 fantastic cause. good luck! love chris & graham x |
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Iain Mac £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 29.06.11 Good luck Andy |
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Wendy Palmer £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 28.06.11 I'm impressed and will require photo evidence! Wendy |
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Jacquelyn Ognall £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 28.06.11 Good luck to you all!! love the Ognalls xx |
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The Caseys £30.00 (+ £7.50 giftaid) 28.06.11 Well done MC. |
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Michael van der Veen £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 27.06.11 A really good cause deserves such a good effort. Well done and the best of luck. Lol, Michael and Uschi. |
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Gill Walker £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 27.06.11 I'd like photographic evidence please!! Good luck!! |
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Heidi de Schouwer £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 27.06.11 Good luck! |
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Emma Saccomani £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 27.06.11 Good on you guys and all the best with your impressive personal journeys for such a great cause!!! |
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Chrissie and Keith £40.00 (+ £10.00 giftaid) 26.06.11 Fantastic effort! Will be thinking of you. |
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Tony P £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 26.06.11 Good luck! |
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Leon & Anne £30.00 26.06.11 Amazing effort, guys! We'll be with you in spirit and cheering you! Lots of love, Leon, Anne, Alex & Grace x |
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Harpers in Bahamas £50.00 25.06.11 Good luck MC & see you soon! Melx |
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Nina Villalba £50.00 24.06.11 We love you!! Have a great event. many kisses to Lia! |
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mary c £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 24.06.11 hi andy saw you across the office the other day which reminded me! |
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Uncle Mozziequito £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 23.06.11 |
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The Matthews £50.00 23.06.11 Looking forward to seeing the pics. lots of luck and bon courage |
