Back in March, you might’ve read about Nicola’s marathon challenge in aid of Harry’s Rainbow.
Nicola turns 50 this year and is marking her personal milestone by taking on a huge challenge in 2025, completing 12 marathons in 12 months.
Last time we checked in with Nicola, she had completed an organised marathon event in London, the Winter Walk, and flown solo, completing three-and-a-half laps of Pitsford Water.
This November, Nicola’s birthday will coincide with Children’s Grief Awareness Week (17-23 November), which will see Harry’s Rainbow aim to create a rainbow across Milton Keynes, raising awareness for children dealing with bereavement.
That makes this month the perfect time to check in with Nicola to see how her challenge is commencing. But first, a little more about the amazing work of Harry’s Rainbow.
Harry’s Rainbow will create a rainbow over Milton Keynes this Children’s Grief Awareness Week
Jane Smith is proud to be supporting the work of Harry’s Rainbow, a Milton Keynes-based charity providing vital support to bereaved children and their families.
The charity provides memory boxes, holds regular Rainbow Groups designed to improve the confidence and self-esteem of children coping with loss, and offers days out to families throughout the year.
In aid of this year’s Children’s Grief Awareness Week (17-23 November), the charity is looking to create a rainbow over Milton Keynes.
You can help increase awareness of the charity and its work by spreading the word, raising funds, and downloading and flying Harry’s Rainbow’s bunting – once you’ve coloured it in, of course.
Harry’s Rainbow aims to give our bereaved children in Milton Keynes a brighter tomorrow, and your support can help them to achieve this.
Nicola’s “12 marathons in 12 months challenge” is hotting up in time for winter
Nicola started the year in a woolly hat at London’s Winter Walk, before lapping Pitsford Water, cheered and accompanied by friends.
Since then, she has braved spring allergies and a hilly summer hike in the Cotswolds.
At the end of March, Nicola completed three laps of Grafham Water, covering more than 27 miles. Then, on 12 April, she was in Windsor for the Action Challenge Easter Challenge, starting at Windsor Racecourse and completing more than 30 miles.
In May, Nicola stayed a little closer to home and completed a circuit around Jane Smith HQ, including breakfast with her parents in Carlton and lunch of a Tesco sandwich on a bench in Olney!
Summer saw Nicola in the beautiful Cotswolds for the Cotswold Challenge on 13 June. With 100K, 75K, 50K, and 25K routes on offer, Nicola opted for the “First Half Challenge” (strictly speaking, 53K) from Cirencester to Wooton. Nicola clocked a massive 35 miles that day. Not only is this a huge distance, but Nicola had the Cotswold hills on the hottest day of the year to contend with.
Now into autumn and with winter fast approaching, Nicola is eight marathons in with four to go.
“The challenge now,” Nicola says, “will be finding different routes that don’t mean trudging through muddy fields, while also dealing with shortening days.
“I can foresee some dark starts and late finishes!”
Nicola is taking on a mighty challenge for an incredibly important cause, and all of us here at Jane Smith Financial Planning are very proud of her efforts so far.
You can help support Nicola too
If you’d like to donate to help Nicola reach her fundraising and walking goals and support bereaved children in and around Milton Keynes, visit her JustGiving page. You can also find out more about Harry’s Rainbow and the work they do.
As Nicola says, “Every penny counts, so please consider supporting this campaign — whether to help me celebrate a milestone birthday, champion a brilliant local charity, or simply cheer me on in this year-long trek!”
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