21 Challenges Mark 21st Anniversary

2021 marks a sad anniversary for Susan Johnston, who lost her baby girl, Heather, when she was stillborn at 28 weeks. In Heather’s memory, in what should have been her 21^st birthday year, mum Susan is taking on 21 challenges.

Also raising funds for Sands, Susan has already conquered Ben Nevis, walked 100km of the Thames, completed 21 half marathons, cycled the 52 miles from her home to Heather’s grave and completed three races in one weekend (a 5K, 10K and half marathon), amongst others.

Susan is also nearing completion of accumulating the 874 mile equivalent of Land’s End to John O’Groats and climbing over 42,000ft within the year.

Remaining challenges include running a sub-30-minute 5K, running a sub-one-hour 10K, a 30-day yoga challenge, completing a night time race and, of course, completing the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon.

Susan chose the Loch Ness Marathon as, although she’s already completed five marathons, she’s never done one in Scotland, where she is originally from. “Secondly, every review I’ve read always raves about how wonderful Loch Ness Marathon is so when choosing my marathon challenge it was the obvious choice,” Susan added.

When sharing her thoughts behind her 21 challenges, Susan said: “The little niggle of an idea first formed last November during lockdown number two. Heather had been on my mind a lot for various reasons, and I felt the need to mark what should have been her 21^st in a special way by doing something positive.

“However, I have to admit that the 21 challenges idea may have been the result of one or two glasses of wine! Initially, I intended to keep this purely as a personal journey and not do any fundraising, however, Sands is very much part of Heather’s story.

“Like so many other families, Sands’ support was one of the biggest factors in helping us cope. When we were at our lowest of times, when you feel so heartbroken, and an enormous amount of guilt at failing everyone; a totally irrational feeling but one that so many parents experience when they lose a baby at or near their due date. So, any way in which I can give back to Sands and say thank you in Heather’s memory means so much.”

“My final challenge for the year will be completing a 5K in fancy dress, probably as an angel.”

If you’d like to donate to Susan’s fundraising for Sands, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Heathers21for21