78 to Cowes: the 'Fertility Closet'

In the run up to our charity selection being confirmed (see yesterday's post) Dave and I have spoken lots about how to handle this. The reality is, as I said previously, this isn't just about completing a new event or distance to us, but a chance to fund raise for a charity. We are both well aware that if we want friends and family to truly get behind us in this and support us, we need to express why this is important to us and be a little bit open about that. Dave commented to me the other day, that this would involve 'coming out of the closet' - not the usual closet people refer to when they use that term, but the 'fertility closet'. So, here we go...


The Rachel Foundation is a research-based charity that focuses on developing therapies for those who are rendered infertile as a side effect of medical treatment, as well as trying to improve treatment for infertile couples. The Rachel Foundation is committed to upholding the wishes of its donors.

The research undertaken by the foundation aims to create an understanding of more efficient and effective measures of fertility preservation and infertility management. The Rachel Foundation, established by CARE, is named after biblical Rachel, wife of Jacob, whose infertility gave the first recorded cry for help (Genesis chapter 30, verse 1).

1 in 6 couples in the UK have trouble conceiving and the number of couples seeking medical help has risen dramatically over recent years. Think about 6 couples you know.... we are that 6th couple. Chances are, you suspected as much, I have been aware for some considerable time that it had to be the worst kept secret going. To the point where it has been quite some time since I have really bothered to try and keep it as a secret. But even so, it is also not something I have been particularly open about. Mainly because it is hard! Ever since setting this blog up I have been aware that this was its purpose... to record not only our physical journey towards being ready to complete our first ultra, but to share our motivation and to ask for support,  and that is not something we can do without being honest about that motivation.

We are excited to take part in the Isle of Wight Challenge. We see it as an adventure, one that we expect to be tough, but that we know will have an end. After 106km we will cross the finish line and experience the elation connected with doing so, all being well. Whilst we don't know exactly what it will be like, we know there will be an end and we know how far we will need to travel to get there.  In our personal lives we are also on a journey with regards our fertility, but the sad truth is we cannot be sure if we will ever cross the 'finish line' we are striving for. It may never come, certainly not in the form we are seeking, we just don't know. And there are countless couples out there who are hurting, mostly in secret, just like us.

And so it would mean the world to us if you could donate to via our sponsorship page to help bring a better understanding of the causes of infertility and more effective treatments one step closer.

Rae