Bungee Jumping is a bit like falling out of bed for a very long time mixed with bouncing on an invisible trampoline upside down!

I first chose to do a bungee jump to raise money for MSRC back in April. I’ve always wanted to do a bungee jump but I am not very good with heights so have always put it off!

I suddenly just decided to go for it so I booked it and then tried to forget about it until the very last minute! 

On the day I was a bit quiet because when we got to the jump site there were people doing a jump every five minutes and it was very high up! 

However, I wasn’t as nervous as I first thought I would be and soon enough I was all harnessed up, with my feet tied together and before I knew it I was the next one to go up! 

As the cage (attached to a crane) lifted us up to 160ft the two jump masters were trying to keep my mind off how high up we were, at this point I really thought I wouldn’t go through with it, but we reached the top pretty quickly and once we were secured I gave my glasses to one of the jump masters which made everything a little bit blurry, which I think helped!! 

I had to stand at the gate of the cage we were in and basically dive off! It was a really crazy feeling and I just remember thinking wow, this is so cool! I then bounced for a bit, which wasn’t as jerky as everyone imagines it and it was really peaceful just hanging upside down over this huge lake! 

I then got lowered down slowly and landed on a mat; I was a bit light headed and dizzy as my bungee cord also span me around in circles loads! 

All in all it was a great experience; I would do it again in a heartbeat, but think I would like to go higher if I ever did it again! I managed to raise over £200.00 for MSRC and I think I’ve cured my fear of heights!

Higgys Heroes were out in force on Saturday. Tracy & Dene Baldwin, Landlady & Landlord of the Globe Inn, and Hannah Ballinger got together after Hannah who has RRMS wanted to raise cash for the MSRC. She can't run a Marathon and so wanted to wear a green Higgys Heroes T Shirt.

The Three decided to hold a 12 hour Darts Marathon at the Globe Public House in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. They enlisted two teams of 6 and played darts for 12 hours non-stop. The Marathon, Raffle, and Disco raised in excess of £1300 for the MSRC. The event was attended by Alastair and Jeannie Hignell and MP Mr David Drew who helped raise moral and encouraged the teams to keep going.

Higgy’s Heroes were unleashed for a second time at the Stroud Half Marathon on Sunday 26th October!

 The Heroes before the start                     The Heroes Ready For The Off

The idea that Higgy’s Heroes would run in the Stroud Half Marathon was the brainchild of Ashley Loveridge, sports editor of the Stroud News and Journal.

Ashley Loveridge (right)

A chance meeting with MSRC patron, Alastair Hignell (aka Higgy) ended up with over 35 Higgy’s Heroes on the start line for a rather damp Stroud Half Marathon!

Higgy

In spite of the wind and rain, it was a brilliant day and a fantastic achievement for many in the group who were taking part in their first half marathon.

Adam Hignell                                                         Dan Hignell

Jeannie Hignell & friends                                    Still smiing

Not content with running a half-marathon, Higgy’s Heroes went on to a post-race party auction and raffle and raised another £2000 for MSRC.

Cathy & Barry                                                     Phil & Tim

In total, the runners have already raised over £9,000! A superb effort all round and our thanks to all those who donned a Higgy’s Heroes t-shirt and pounded the streets.

 Elaine

Special thanks also to the many supporters who turned out to support the team, Rik and Sara our sports physio’s, Steve and Heather from the Bay Tree Tea Rooms and the staff at Bar Nine for providing a fab buffet for our hungry runners!

Photos on this page courtesy of Rachel Fryer.

You can view the whole set of TeamMSRC photos from Stroud 2008 on our Flickr pages

I’m hoping the weather’s fine on October 26th both as a near-neighbour who knows how much sunshine Stroud is owed after a depressing summer, and as a Gloucester player who will be taking part in a Sunday recovery programme following our EDF Energy Cup fixture against Newport Gwent Dragons.

More importantly, I hope the sun will shine on Higgy’s Heroes, and all those raising money for the MSRC at the Stroud Half-marathon. My best wishes and good luck to all.

Mike Tindall Gloucester captain

Source: Stroud News and Journal © Copyright 2001-2008  (23/10/08)

Alastair Hignell (left) and Ashley Loveridge

By Alastair Hignell

It may seem strange for someone with an incurable, progressive, debilitating and unpredictable condition to say this but there are times when I feel blessed to have MS.

I wouldn't wish my symptoms-I can't walk very far, climb stairs, drive a car, write legibly, or do my job-on anyone, but I would wish an extraordinary, uplifting and totally unexpected side-effect on everyone.

As an MS-er(we don't use the word sufferer, and we're no more patient than the rest of the population) I have come to meet people with this condition who bring a new definition to words like courage and cheerfulness and indomitability. And I have been exposed to the enormous compassion, and generosity, and love, that human beings are capable of. Some have provided spontaneous and invaluable encouragement- a word, a gesture at the right time can mean so much- while others have given their time and energy in practical support.

Some manned the MSRC stall at the farmers market last Saturday and helped raise a significant amount for the charity whose patron I am proud to be. Some -including my wife Jeannie and SNJ sports editor Ashley Loveridge- are also running the Stroud half marathon this weekend. They are Higgy's Heroes. Please cheer them on.

Source: Stroud News and Journal © Copyright 2001-2008 (22/10/08)

Good luck to all of Higgy's Heroes running the Stroud Half Marthon on Sunday for the MSRC! We will be there to cheer you on! - The MSRC Crew.

Following on from their fantastic effort in the Flora London Marathon, a new team of Higgy’s Heroes are preparing for another challenge.

Headed up by Ashley Loveridge, sports editor of the Stroud News and Journal, a team of Higgy’s Heroes will be taking part in the Stroud Half Marathon on Sunday 26th October.

Also running will be Higgy’s wife Jeannie, his sons Adam and Dan and other members of Higgy’s family.

Alastair Hignell said “I’ve always been in awe of anyone who commits his or herself to running long distances for charity. I’m incredibly proud that my wife Jeannie and sons Adam and Dan have chosen to run the Stroud Half Marathon for the Higgy’s Heroes team on behalf of the MS Resource Centre. As Patron of the charity which is dedicated to making life better for those of us with this incurable disease, I salute my family and the rest of Higgy’s Heroes”

If you would like to join Higgy’s Heroes for the Stroud Half Marathon then contact snjsport@stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk or abi@msrc.co.uk for further information.

You can read the article about Higgy here: http://tinyurl.com/5o8w4y

If you would like to sponsor the team, you can do this online at http://www.justgiving.com/higgysheroes2

And you can follow Ashley’s training at www.fiteam.co.uk/ashley

Go Higgy’s Heroes!