Good luck to the Bird family!
The Bird Boys are hitting the road and running the London marathon as a 4 on 21st April 2024! The family say “this year we have been lucky enough to have been allocated one of the ten assisted running places in the London Marathon. We will be running with Justin in a custom-built manual chair with goal of completing the distance in under 4 hours.
Many of you will know us – some maybe not – we are Oliver, Alastair, Justin and Tristan Bird.
Justin and Tristan were born on 29th February 2000, possibly one of the first Leap British identical twins in the Second Millenium, and 10 weeks premature. Complicated even before they were teenagers, Jus was diagnosed with severe quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy and has been a wheelchair user from the get go, requiring multiple surgeries and interventions. Tris had a really shaky start but rallied until he needed a kidney transplant at the age of 15 which, thanks to the organ bank of Mum was successful.
Despite this complicated scenario we have never let this slow us down as a family from adventuring in Snowdonia and the Lake District, spending summers in Suffolk and Anglesey fishing and sailing, each twin has grabbed life by the balls and hasn’t let go yet.
We are immensely proud of the young men they have grown into and look forward to crossing the line together.
Inevitably, we have benefitted from and become close to several causes unique to our journey.
This year we have chosen to represent two charities – the first is the Alder Hey Children’s Kidney Fund which works support all those in renal failure and their carers and families from start to finish. The unbelievable energy and resilience shown in the kindness, expertise and wisdom of those associated with this small but mighty charity is second to none.
Secondly we pay homage to Whizz Kidz – if there’s one thing we’ve learned it’s that the sooner wheelchair users get access to expertly fitted and appropriate mobility options the more they can engage with friends, family, school and the community. Life becomes richer for less physically able young people and their families. Those of you who have met Justin know how much he values his independence through the availability of good power chairs. We believe every child should be provided with a means to explore and make their own way in life.
Not a Team to shirk from a challenge, we are aiming to raise £5,000 for these terrific charities.
All donations would be greatly appreciated and genuinely do make a difference.
Thank you”
Ol, Al, Jus, and Tris https://www.justgiving.com/page/bird-boys-london-marathon-2024
(Donations will be paid to the Kidney Fund, and not Alder Hey Charity)
UPDATE
What a day for the Bird family!
The boys completed the London marathon and have raised the magnificent amount £12,004 plus Gift Aid to be shared between Alder Hey Children’s Kidney Fund and Whizz Kids – amazing!
Prior to the event Alistair said ‘this is a celebration of the conclusion of a very difficult few years and to come out the other side still smiling. A celebration of both twins’ willingness to grab life and make the most of it even in some pretty depressing circumstances. And the celebration of the resilience of brotherhood (sibling-hood), where through thick and thin we have had each other’s back and will continue to support each other no matter what. Justin will be joining us and we will be pushing him in the wheelchair.’
And what a way to celebrate to share this experience together and at the same time raise such a remarkable amount for charities close to your hearts. Thank you!
