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Run Rhona… Run!

By Rhona, Graphic Designer on 18 November 2010 | Category: Optima 0 comments

At Optima we are often up for doing crazy things in the name of chari-dee, be it growing a comedy moustache (or even better, a comedy moustache of a completely different colour to one's eyebrows and hair... ask Stuart about that) or running a half marathon. This year I've taken the latter option and completed three runs for Asthma UK... and more are on the way.

Last month I celebrated my first anniversary at Optima... or rather we celebrated.. with cake. Lots of events are accompanied by cake here.

This past year has flown by; 2010 has brought us awards, creative projects by the bucketload and I feel I've settled into a great team. 2010 has also brought us challenges... or at least it has for some of us – right now its Movember for 4 of the team; Mike, Matt, Stu and Julian's facial caterpillars are amusing members of the public and clients alike, plus valiantly raising money for the Prostate Cancer Charity.

My challenge this year has been a bit more fitness-based... I have completed three runs including a half marathon in London and the Great South Run to raise money for Asthma UK.

I've had asthma since I was four, and this year has been challenging but so rewarding; I never dreamed I would be able to run a half marathon but by training my lungs as well as my body I ran all three races without needing to use my inhaler; proof that exercise really can make a difference. I've even had a couple of articles written about me in the local paper, plus a photoshoot of me running in my bright green Asthma UK running top... mmm attractive!

Thanks to all who sponsored me (with and without cake bribery), I've raised over £600 this year and with the articles in the paper I hope I've raised a lot of awareness about asthma, and how it doesn't have to limit you physically. 1 in 11 children and 1 in 12 adults in the UK are asthmatics, and 1 person every 7 hours dies from it. However, if its managed effectively it doesn't have to rule your life. Paula Radcliffe, Paul Scholes and David Beckham all live with asthma, and if they can succeed in sport then why should it hold me back?

In 2011 I'll be competing in my first triathlon and hope to do the Great South Run again, and tackle the Great North Run... and if these go well I may even try a full marathon one day – I must be mad!