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Lifestyle
www.ilkestonlife.com ILKESTON LIFE November 2021 15
My amazing London Marathon experience

Clover Attewell, a student During this time my family and lining the barriers – shouting
nurse from Shipley View, myself were caring for my wonder- names, cheering, blowing whis-
Ilkeston, tells the story of her ful grandma, who in late 2019 tles, banging pots and pans, pubs
with their sound systems blasting
had been diagnosed with cancer
run in the London Marathon in multiple sites in her body, and music out of the windows and
last month raising over in September 2020, we sadly lost many bands playing in the streets
£1,300 for the Nottingham her. She never understood why I to cheer us along the route. The
Breast Cancer Research Cen- chose to run such long distances marshals on route were so encour-
tre in memory of her grand- for no apparent reason!! We aren’t aging, and clearly loving the event
as much as we were – even down
ma. Her finishing time was a running family at all. to the ones on a road warning us
In 2020, as I’d done many times, I
4hrs 43mins 30 secs. entered the London Marathon bal- there were speed humps in the
lot for 2021 – expecting as always road. They made songs, they
started running with my to get a rejection and even more so danced, they clapped, they shouted
I mum and her late friend Sara, expecting it to be cancelled again. hump related jokes, just to give us
around 5-6 years ago. But in February this year, would an extra reason to smile.
We started at Straws Bridge and by you believe it... I was successful in I held back tears multiple times
as the electricity of the day was
a much sought after ballot place!
the time we got to the Newdigate, Around 450,000 people enter a fuelling me round that course, and
I was begging to turn round and ballot for 17,000 places. And once knowing I had raised an incredible
go home! But it didn’t take long again my wonderful friends were £1,317 for NBCRC. My wonder-
to build up some resilience and there again to help me train. And ful husband Richard and daughter
within a month or so I was running it was an easy decision to choose Matilda raced round London’s
with them a few times a week. a cancer charity to help raise some underground and managed to catch
This was all part of my weight loss money for. I contacted the Not- me on course four times, which
journey, I used to weigh a lot more tingham Breast Cancer Research was wonderful and created some
than I do now and dieting had Centre, based at the University of very special moments in the event
done so much but the age old just Nottingham, they were so support- for us as a family.
getting up and doing something is ive – and it was a pleasure to help I also witnessed someone propos-
what made all the difference. raise much needed funds. From ing to their partner on tower bridge
Within a few years, I was persuad- the generosity of my friends and which got the biggest cheer I heard
ed to enter Derby’s half marathon family who donated, and then the that day. It was special from start
– I’d got the bug for running prop- kindness of some local business- to finish, which I’m missing so
erly! Since then, I’ve completed es, I also managed to hold a raffle much already – I wish I could have
many events, up to half marathons which gave a huge boost to my stayed in that bubble for a while
and pounded the streets, trails and final amount – which was £1,317. I longer but thankfully I do have an-
muddy fields, making some won- wanted a local charity, that doesn’t other shot at London, the London
derful friends along the way. get as much recognition as other Landmarks Half Marathon in April
In 2019, I was talked into enter- bigger charities. In the end there – I can’t wait!
ing 2020 Windermere marathon, was three of us who ran in our During my training I said I’d not
the training was gruelling - every beautiful white, pink and blue do another marathon after this...
Saturday at 7am we were out come vests raising thousands of pounds But as I sat on my hotel bed that
rain or shine (or sleet), but with for NBCRC. evening after the event, with my
some friendly faces it was a little Sunday 3rd October soon came burger and chips and a G&T, wear-
easier. We were peaking with our round, and I was in London with ing my medal around my neck – of
training at 20 miles in March 2020 masses of people and the atmos- course I entered the ballot again
and everything stopped and got phere was indescribable. For the for 2022!! I would do it again to-
cancelled. entire 26.2 miles there were people morrow without a second thought. Clover with her medal

LETTER FROM AMERICA, THE FORESTS OF FIFTH AVENUE - FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Friends of Stanley the village, a Communi-Tea at

and hiking paths – all of which I will be festooned with white lights I walk through the village, I know the Eventide Hall and events
know quite well thanks to a kindly for Christmas. The trees sadden everyone and everyone knows Common such as a pumpkin trail and
neighbour getting me a personal- me no end. In Dale Abbey and me. When I walk down Fifth Christmas Fair Easter Egg trail.
ized map. Living in Dale, I try to the surroundings, there is no end Avenue, I don’t know anyone and The group have also joined in
run (there’s euphemism) between to the trees. They live in their no one wants to make eye contact 27th November sees the Friends with other local villages to sup-
two and five miles a day, no mask natural environment. They don’t with me. For thousands of years, of Stanley Common’s most am- port their activities such as the
required. And no need for books have small fences around them to human beings have lived in villag- bitious event so far - a Christmas West Hallam Scarecrow trail.
on tape either. The beautiful protect them. They don’t have to es. It is natural and it feels right. Fair. To be held at the Top Club By raising funds at local fetes
countryside is captivating enough. fight the concrete and the glass Coming back to Dale Abbey in on Belper Road Stanley Com- and car-boots and through
In NY I want to block out the sur- and steel for a bit of sunlight. The November will be coming home, in mon between 11am and 3pm. personal donations, the group
roundings, in Dale Abbey, I want BBC recently ran a documentary – more ways than one. Can’t come The event will showcase local have funded the British Legion
to embrace them. The Hidden Life of Trees. Trees ap- soon enough for me. businesses with products such poppies along Belper Road.
Reason #4: Trees. parently communicate. They talk as mugs, bags, cakes, chutneys, If you would like to help or
Perhaps the greatest shock in to one another. The trees here, skincare, jewellery and much support or join us please get in
coming back to Manhattan was if they are talking, are most likely more on sale. touch via the above details.
the realization of how cold and saying ‘help, get me out of here’. Please see Facebook or contact Beverley Kilby
empty the place is. This may seem Reason #5: Friends. Julie on 07816 641028 or email
strange, as some 8 million people In the relatively short time that friends-of-stanley-common@
live here, but it is true. The place I have been living in Dale Abbey, googlegroups.com for more
is a concrete, glass and steel can- I have come to understand the details.
yon, entirely man-made. It has no enormously attractive power of The Friends of Stanley Common
warmth, no connection to living living in a small village. The village are a new group officially found-
things – except the people, the is more than a collection of houses ed in May 2021. At the heart of
ubiquitous pigeons and the rats. and homeowners, it is more akin the group is the desire to bring
Outside of our building there are to a family. Until now, I never the community together by pro-
four spindly trees, planted in the understood the importance of viding exciting social activities
sidewalk in tiny cement boxes. a village pub, but in Dale Abbey, for all age groups.
This is, by the way, considered a most of the village gathers every So far this year the group have
very high end asset to our build- Friday night to meet and chat and New York ‘newsstand’ - We don’t organised:Litter-picking around
ing – this ‘forest’. Soon the trees catch up on one another. When sell newspapers any more.