Charlie Webster Blog
Running the London Marathon for Women’s Aid
March 14, 2011
Filed Under Marathon
I am running the London marathon again this year, 26.2 miles, for Women’s Aid.
Domestic Violence kills 2 Women every week in England and Wales…shocking right! What about the children involved?...suffering emotional torment and abuse themselves. Imagine how worthless and scared a woman and child feel in that situation.
My mission is to raise as much money as i can with your help for a cause that is very close to my heart and my own experiences…a cause that shouldn’t even exist…but sadly it does.
Raising money is essential but so is raising awareness. This year I’m going to be running the marathon a little differently all will be revealed soon.
There will also be the opportunity to get hold of a limited edition ‘Real Man’ T-shirt available for both male and female. Take a picture of yourselves in the T-shirt tweet it/facebook it and send it me and I will add your picture to the ‘Real Man’ blog page on my website. Be a part of putting a stop to this horrendous act.
Please sponsor me to help Women’s Aid put an end to domestic violence and child abuse.
Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
A big thank you for all your support
Charlie
x
First ever all Ladies Speedway School
February 28, 2011
Filed Under Sky Sports
The first ever all Ladies Speedway School happened on Sunday 27th in Sittingbourne, Kent. History was made. In my previous blog I spoke about how the idea came about in a car park when chatting to a fantastic gentleman equally as passionate as me, Barry Bishop. It’s amazing to think from that one off the cuff conversation, the event was born. Once I and Barry had decided to go ahead we put our thoughts into action. Barry worked extremely hard to push the interest and get sponsors on board, a massive cyber round of applause to him and to Sittingbourne Speedway for hosting the day.
Now I’m not going to talk about the times when Barry and I were stressing at each other over the phone about the weather and the two times it had to be postponed but the fact that neither of us gave up. We both were so eager and keen to make this work.
The Ladies that attended were inspiring and admirable in every way, the majority had never been on a Speedway bike before, and one woman hadn’t even got her driving license never mind riding a bike. From young teenagers aged 16, to amazing Sue, who is celebrating her 60th birthday in April and a mother and daughter entry, who rode together on the day. It was so uplifting to see every single person on the day grinning from ear to ear and the buzz and energy amongst the group was intensely infectious in every way.
I was so excited to get the chance to ride again myself too; the last time I had taken to the track was a year and a half ago with British Champion Chris Harris. This time I wasn’t wearing Coventry Bees kevlars but my own thanks to Selwyn Froggitt Racewear and Wessex Marines and yes I did have Sheffield United on my suit. I got the opportunity to ride a smaller 125cc bike at Sittingbourne on the training track. It offers perfect facilities for training which should be utilised by the BSPA to start pushing grassroots Speedway through. Chris Schramm and Andy Meredith were so patient and encouraging in their coaching. Chris, I’ll let you off for your commentary of my first go of the day.
500cc was next thanks to Former World Champion Sam Ermolenko and Montana Jowett who is an awesome Speedway rider and a credit to women in motorsport. By this time the track was really quite wet and I found it hard coming into the corners, but managed to get a bit of speed up and loved every second of it. I didn’t want them to tell me to stop. It’s the most exhilarating, exciting, fun experience and also really very tough.
Sinead McLaren then put me in place on the metal plate attached to her bike where I held on for dear life. She whizzed me around the track on her 500cc sidecar. Sinead is the first woman in the UK to race sidecar and currently competes as part of the only female duo. I’m sure you can imagine the trials and tribulations Sinead has had to overcome and sadly still does.
All in all the day was superb. Even standing in the soaking rain receiving their medals, the Ladies were laughing and joking full of confidence and full of life. To the Ladies who took part reading this you shone your own little ray of sunshine that is a credit to everything that is attached to women in sport. Oh and Penny your cake after actually saved my life after my 3am start, so thank you! Penny makes unbelievable tasting cake.
Well done to everybody involved and all the money that was raised for charity, Help for Heroes, NSPCC and Make A Wish. Here’s to more Ladies Speedway training schools, who knows where this could lead to.
If you don’t risk anything you risk even more.