The Smuggler Run

This year we are raising money for St Marks Hospital, Uxbridge.

This is a specialist NHS hospital, that offers ground breaking and life saving operations and procedures. The care and treatment are second to none.

The reason why St Marks ?

To answer that we have to go back 2 years, when Margaret Cowell was a fit, energetic fun loving member of Seeds Cycling.

Her last tour in 2010 with the Club, down to the New Forest, was a great weekend away for everyone, with Mags managing a 60 miler to Bournemouth and back, a really gruelling ride, with a few tears after running out of energy, she picked herself up and finished the ride. Little did we all know that fate was waiting around the corner to deal a cruel blow.

Within 2 weeks Mags was in Darent Valley, fighting for her life, Cdiff had got into her bowel, after what should have been a simple stay in hospital.

A 10 hour operation, to remove a ruptured bowel, no doubt saved her life, but for Mags a massive shock, and a complete new way of life lay ahead. She was still not out of the woods, with yet another infection grabbing hold of weakened body.

The reality started to set in as she slowly made her recovery. Its hard to imagine the despair and heartbreak Mags was going through. But as we all know she is a fighter, and she made her mind up she would get back out on her bike again.

By Christmas she was back on her feet again and returned to the Seeds party, against all the odds. Another setback and another visit to the dreaded Darent Valley. A long road to recovery for 2011, but the determination was back, the fire in the belly J .

Then the news, that St Marks would take over her case, eager to get her operation out of the way she did consider Darent Valley, but the visit to St Marks, made her mind up that was the way to go, and filled her with confidence again.

Her love of life and positive attitude a cause of amazement to the specialists, always asking the question when can I get back on my bike.

The next operation another 10 hour monster, was for re constructive surgery, all went well, mainly thanks to the expert care at St Marks.

Within 2 weeks Mags was up and about and back to work, looking forward to her first gym session.

Christmas with the Seeds take 2, who was this party person, a changed women from last year.

2012. Mags is now waiting for her final Operation at St Marks, she wants us all to celebrate her birthday and getting her life back on June 23^rd on the fun packed Smuggler Run. We want to support St Marks, for returning Mags to what she loves and lives for.

Thanks St Marks!