4 October 2009

Charity challenge for chaplaincy staff

Staff from the University of Dundee’s Chaplaincy Centre are hard at work preparing for a gruelling charity triathlon challenge later this month.

Reverend Dr Fiona Douglas (university chaplain), Jill Webster (chaplaincy secretary), Graeme Stevenson (director of music), and Reverend Gordon Campbell, (honorary chaplain) will be joined by John Culling, from the Tayforth Universities Officers Training Corps, for the triathlon.

The team will swim, cycle and run as they seek to raise at least £1,750 for the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) through sponsorship from family, friends and colleagues.

Jill is something of a veteran fundraiser, having helped generate thousands of pounds for CHAS in the past, and it was her desire to try something new that has led to this latest venture.

'I’ve done a fundraising swim and cycle in the past, but not running,' she explained. 'I fancied doing something along those lines but even a half marathon seemed too much for someone who isn’t a runner, and so my husband suggested a triathlon.'

'At first I laughed the idea off, but then happened to mention it to people here, who thought it was a great idea and said they might be interested in joining in. Pretty soon it was all arranged and there were five of us lined up to take part!'

'This has helped us raise a lot more money than I would have managed on my own, so I’m very grateful to them. The whole team is training hard in preparation for the triathlon. We’ve all got our specialities - some of us are runners, swimmers or cyclists - but no one does all three, so it’s definitely a challenge for all of us.'

The charity challenge begins at 9am at the University’s pool on Thursday, October 22nd when each member of the squad will swim 32 lengths before cycling 10 miles along the Riverside cycle path to Broughty Ferry and back.

Participants will then pull on their running shoes at the University’s Riverside playing fields to jog two miles and complete the fundraiser

Dr Douglas says that while the distances involved in each stage are not in themselves particularly intimidating, putting them together is the hard part. Each participant has their own particular ability, and the triathlon has been designed to provide a tough, but achievable, challenge for each of them.

There is, however, one part she is looking forward to least of all.

'I was a swimmer in my younger days and do a spot of running, but I haven’t even sat on a bike for about 25 years so the cycling component will be the one I really need to get to grips with,' she said.

'I’m looking forward to the day and have been training hard, but I am a bit nervous because we don’t want to let anyone down. Everyone has been very generous, so hopefully we can rise to the challenge.'

'As well as helping charity, it’s great for team-building, and for raising the profile of the chaplaincy.'

'It’s a great challenge. We’re all capable of doing each stage individually, but doing them one after the other is the real challenge. None of us will have put it all together beforehand but I’m sure the adrenaline will get us through it on the day.'

Further information on the charity triathlon, and how to sponsor the team, is available by visiting www.justgiving.com/chaplaincytriathlon/.

Notes to editors:
Jill Webster will be available on the day by calling 07972 794021 after 2pm.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277