Vikki Maclean's Fundraising Page

Me with my training buddy - Lucy Lawless

Baby Ollie, just one day old with his brother Angus

Ollie Maclean - living proof that places like Starship do an amazing job!

Player of Year 2009 for the Trooper College Rifles rugby Club

UPDATE: Well I am back from New York and the Marathon. Had a fabulous time and the race was an exhilarating experience - albeit a very early start of 4.30 a.m. with a race start of 10.20!! I was fortunate enough to have a great day - no walls and had enough energy to do some partying in the evening which may suggest I did not push myself hard enough!! I do not think so. I completed the race in 6 hours and 1 minute and have a lovely gong
to show for it!! Andrew Young did a phenomenal 4.04!! I can recommend it to anyone and am looking forward to the next one - which might just be a bit more low key you will be pleased to hear!! Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me in this amazing journey both financially for Starship and the incredible support I personally have received in encouragement and self belief. Thank you!!
It's official. I am having a mid-life crisis. I am running the New York Marathon on 1st November 2009. I have been in training since 1st January. I needed to get fit first before I could possibly embark on running this distance and those of you who really know me, know that I am not a runner. I could not, until recently, even run for a bus!!

It's all Andrew Young's fault. Over a glass of wine (or three) I foolishly agreed to run the New York marathon with him. He is the CEO of Starship Foundation alongside whom I have been privileged to work in a fundraising capacity over the last three years. And the pain, agony and suffering of running the marathon (and believe me, it will be agony!) is nothing compared to what the brave children at Starship Children's Hospital go through every day. Andrew's at www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/AYoung.

Why Starship? Well, it's dear to my heart. When I was pregnant with my first son Angus, I contracted Rhesus disease - this had a knock on effect with subsequent pregnancies. When I was pregnant with Ollie, he was at risk of dying in the womb, so his first blood transfusion was before he was even born when I was 30 weeks pregnant. He was induced at 32 weeks after a second blood transfusion and had a series of blood transfusions for a year after that. All this happened when we were living in Scotland. But five years ago, we moved to New Zealand and I quickly learned that Starship Hospital performs these sorts of lifesaving procedures every day. I was a complete basket case during that year and I have a lot of people to thank for their support, kindness and friendship. It was a difficult journey and many parents have tougher journeys than ours to travel.

Ollie is now a happy, healthy and determined 11 year-old. We couldn't imagine our life without him and for every step of the marathon, I'll be thinking of him and all other children like him, whose lives depend on the expert care and services made possible at Starship.

I have been amazed by people's continued support and generosity to help me achieve this goal: my trainer Simone Rank at Resolution Fitness, Air New Zealand for getting me there and back, Icebreaker so I look good!! and Genesis Gym, Dean Geddes nutritionist to name but a few and of course my husband Andrew - very long suffering with the aches, pains and early starts and both the boys Angus and Ollie.

Please dig deep if you can. I can't promise I'll be doing this again next year! Help me raise my goal to match my age of 50.