12 Days of Christmas Charity Marathon

18 year old Chris Nash raises money in memory of his twin brother Gareth

On 4th June 1989 twin brothers, Christopher Matthew Nash and Gareth Mark Nash were born. 9 days later, on 13th June, Gareth Mark Nash died. He was my twin brother, and in September last year I decided I wanted to do something different to remember him. At the same time I wanted to raise some money for Sands a charity well known to me as they have provided great support and guidance to my family. My aim was to raise £2,000 and raise awareness, as well as remembering Gareth.

I had so many ideas for fundraising events: a 24 hour sponsored fast, a 24 hour sponsored silence, a 30 km cycle ride, a day where we could distribute candles to raise awareness for Sands, and even 24 hours in solitary confinement, away from modern technology and people. There were so many ideas that there I had only one option – a unique challenge - 12 charity events in 12 days. Commencing on 25th December 2007 the “12 Days of Christmas Charity Marathon” was born. On Christmas Day I washed all the Christmas dishes by hand, followed by a 24 hour fast, a coffee morning, a 30km cycle ride, a car treasure hunt, a 24 hour silence, a 10 hour bible reading and a 10 mile walk. The “Beacon of Hope Tour” (which was a memorial day organised to raise awareness, where people all over the UK lit candles in their front room in memory of all those babies who were stillborn or died neonatally), a car wash, a 10 hour prayer day, and finishing with 24 hours in solitary confinement

The event was a huge challenge and as the series of events began, the enormity of the task ahead began to sink in. After an hour washing Christmas dishes, followed by 24 hours with no food, I was already exhausted but the encouragement of knowing it was for Gareth kept me going to the end. Some were certainly testing, 3 hours of cycling in variable weather conditions, then a day of giving out candles in freezing temperatures and strong winds with my fiancée Caroline, followed by more of the same during the car wash helped by my brother Jonathan, made it difficult, but I was determined to make sure Sands got the money, and Gareth could be proud. The events were well supported even at the car treasure hunt where undeterred by heavy rain a lot of money was raised. It was tiring, especially the 10 mile walk and 30km cycle ride, and at some points lonely, particularly the 24 hours without people or technology. However it was definitely worthwhile as due to the newspapers, my website, or meeting me in Northwich during the “Beacon Of Hope Tour”, awareness was raised of the still taboo subjects of stillbirth and neonatal death.

The support for the event was phenomenal, with my parents, my younger brother, and my fiancée all helping, the event has so far raised £2,039.63. With money still to come, this should reach almost £2500. The money raised will of course help Sands to continue providing the excellent support they give to those affected by the death of a baby, and continue to fund vital research to try and help prevent this happening to other families.
To raise over £2,000 for any charity would be an achievement, but I am so glad this was for Sands. I hope my money makes a real difference to Sands, and to the lives of other families like mine supported by Sands. This event was more than just a charity event to me; my premature birth meant that at just 9 days old, I lost my closest relative, my twin brother. Every day I think about him, and about what he might have been like. This year, on 13th June, was the hardest time in my life, knowing I was celebrating adulthood without Gareth there. Everyone who’s lost a brother or sister must know that pain, and to know that I dedicated 12 days of my life to him made it worth every second and I hope I made him proud.

I will always remember Gareth, and this Christmas too is a Christmas I will never forget. A memory that will live with me, next to the one line that reminds me of Gareth, a lyric from Martyn Joseph – “Broken wings don’t always heal to fly”.