Week 4 of Laura's challenge journal

Week 4 of my journal for the 24 hr Danceathon and my exercise regime was increased – much to my dismay!  I was finding it harder and more difficult to fit into what has been a very busy week but then I saw what Sarah Cox was doing for Children in Need and I thought….

There she was running through appalling weather conditions, up and down hills (steeper than she’d been told) and in a great deal of pain but did she stop?  No she didn’t.  There was me moaning about the extra exercise I was doing, puffing and panting, moaning and groaning but at least I was doing it in the comfort of my own home, in the warm.  I could have given up, wanted to give up and cheat, say that I’d done it when I hadn’t but didn’t – because of Sarah.

Sarah spoke about what motivated her, what kept her going during the dark, difficult times.  It was the knowledge of the challenges children and families were facing, how Children in Need had helped them in the past.  She knew that the money being raised would make a difference to the lives of other children and families. 

The same motivates me but for women.  I’ve seen the challenges that women face, the lack of confidence, the stereotyping, the discrimination, the domestic abuse, the caring responsibilities that prevents women from progressing.  I’ve seen the monumental changes that the charity WayfinderWoman have made to women’s lives and know that the money raised is essential for them to continue their transformational work.

My danceathon can’t compare to Sarah’s five marathons in five days in terms of endurance.  On the other side of the coin though she had a huge organisation behind her and highly qualified experts to help her prepare, during the week and afterwards.  I don’t have that.  I’m doing this with less than a handful of people who believe in what I’m doing, believe in what the charity does.  I’m immensely grateful for that. 

It’s lonely still, building the event, exercising at home, walking hours alone, or sometimes with my partner.  The bright side is the exercise classes which have been incorporated into my training programme.  A couple of the women are aware of what I’m doing and ask occasionally how the training is going.

That's slight though in terms of motivation.  I was boosted when someone in the previous week donated £100 to the fundraising page!  That was amazing.  This week, it was Sarah Cox.  She helped me, unknowingly and importantly, to keep up with the training when I didn’t want to, knowing that the only reason she was able to keep going was her training, and the realisation of the good that would come about as a result of the monies raised through the endurance event.
So I'll keep going.  It seems like a long way ahead, May 2026, but as my trainer said, "This isn't just dancing, it's endurance and at your age we need to start building it now otherwise you won't make it."  Wish me luck!
[To donate to Laura’s Danceathon use this link https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/danceathon2026 ]