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Dave Lefever

2026 Ribbon Run Virtual

Help Dave raise 150!

My Activity Tracking

134
kms

My target 5 kms

I’m taking part in Sands Ribbon Run

I’ve committed to taking part in Sands Ribbon Run which takes place during Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October) for every much-loved baby sadly not here today.

Sands ensure that everyone affected by the loss of a baby gets the support they need and deserve when facing the toughest of times. They campaign for change, provide training for midwives and healthcare professionals, and support research so that fewer babies die and so that less families experience the tragedy of losing their baby. Anything you are able to donate means so much.

Thank you.

£20 - could provide a bereaved family with a memory box to help create and keep safe precious and lasting memories of their baby.

£35 - could answer a call from someone reaching out for support who has been through pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.

£100 - could help ensure every hospital in the UK has a dedicated Sands volunteer to help healthcare professionals access our training, guidance and support.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

£1,345 + £131.94 GiftAid

My Goal

£150

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My Achievements

Fundraising page

Updated Profile Pic

Added a Blog Post

Received 5 Donations

Raised £100

Raised £150

Reached Goal

Increased Target

My Updates

It’s Done

Saturday 10th Oct
So after all these weeks the run is done, 

what a day my emotions have been all over the place all day, I never expected this to play havoc with my mind so much, 

One minute I’m joking with my youngest son, (Melissa’s little brother who did the run with me) about tripping up the 90 year old man that was running if he went past me to suddenly wondering if Melissa would have been a runner or a gamer or reader, this then sent me onto other questions I’ll never have the answers too, then I’m worrying about falling over and checking where the old man is 🤫, 

Then it’s done and I’ve finished (beat the old man lol) and I feel like I’ve done all my support and sponsors proud, so head home head high, hit the front door see a friend who has been through the same have a little chat then go in doors and bang it’s taking everything I’ve got not to cry, 

I don’t really know why but the whole day was then like that chatting one minute the next verge of tears, so so emotional 

What a day 🩷💙🩷💙🩷💙🩷

Last week

Sunday 4th Oct
So we are 6 days out now and I’m starting to panic, can do 5k in the gym but only managed 3.5k running outside!!

Not long now

Tuesday 29th Sep
Starting to feel the pressure now, just over a week, 5 more training runs left, then D - Day!! 

Head down and run run run

Getting there

Thursday 17th Sep
So have just completed week 7 of couch to 5K, should get the last couple of weeks completed a bit before the run so I can then just keep building fitness and stamina, granted outside is proving a lot harder than the treadmill 

2nd time ive completed a full lap, only 2 laps to add!!!

Monday 14th Sep

Update

Tuesday 8th Sep
So managed to complete a full lap of the park run course on Sunday, only 2 more to find :) 

Just over a month

Thursday 3rd Sep
So we are just over a month to go, it feels like the time is passing quicker than my fitness is improving,  it I’m looking to target 40-45 mins for the 5k, it seems realistic at this point but certainly need to get some more out door runs in and if anyone can remove the hill I will have to run up it would be appreciated :)

20mins - tick

Thursday 27th Aug
Well at the second attempt I got through the 20minutes, my shins were hurting my lungs were hurting my head was saying what the hell
Is wrong with you but my heart that was saying this is for Melissa you don’t bloody stop, you carry on till the end or the treadmill sends you flying but you do not stop!!! 

And I made it with a lot of sweat, some very bad language and sheer bloody stubbornness lol

20 friggin minutes!!!!

Tuesday 25th Aug
Ok so tonight was the next step on Couch to 5K, 
1 straight 20min run… 

Well I didn’t quite make it but I managed 15 before my shins made it impossible to carry on, but I’m pleased a huge leap forward, it was only a few weeks ago 90 seconds seemed impossible, this run has given me the motivation to carry on, I may stumble but I will not fall!!!! 

Outside after action

Tuesday 25th Aug
Didn’t go as well as hoped but was a good experience 

Outside!!!

Sunday 23rd Aug
So as I keep moving forward I feel like now is a good time to try running outside, away from the safe space my gym has become, 

No couch to 5k app to help on this one just a start line and ideally 16 straight minutes,  not sure how this is going to go!!! 

Wish me luck 

Second Session

Friday 21st Aug
So the second session since signing up went better than expected and I know I can run for 2x 8 min periods with a 5 min walk in the middle, it was hard but for the first time in 5 weeks I felt good when I completed it, 

My mind set is 100% now, I will do this, failing is not an option a lot of people have sent a lot of money sponsering me, I can not let you down, 

when i signed up for this the sponsership side didnt enter my head, I was doing this for my daughter and to raise awareness of the charity, the fact the money can physically help some familes at the worst time is such a huge bonus, I am truly humbled,

Thank you all so much

First session since signing up

Tuesday 18th Aug
Couch  to 5K 
Week 5 run 1 5m, 5m , 5m with 3m walks in between …. Covered 3.67km in 36 mins .. this is going to be a challenge!!

Why?

Tuesday 18th Aug
My story is this

My daughter Melissa would have been 21 in May 27, so for nearly 21 years I have held onto an anger and a hurt that I can’t put into words, It doesn’t ever dull, I’ve just got better at blocking it out. 

I started couch to 5k a little over 4 weeks ago for no reason other than I had to join a gym to continue the work the muscular and skeletal team were doing with me to repair some of the damage I’d caused my back over the years with lifting too much for too long the wrong way, so being a bit tight If I was going to spend money on the gym I’m getting my moneys worth hence kind of falling into the couch to 5k, 

Weeks 1-3 I got through with a lot of sweat, a lot more swearing  and a rock song play list :),

Week 4 took a step up and it hurt and I struggled (had to repeat the 1st day as I couldn’t finish it) but I got there with a little help from family, 

Trust me I’m nearly 50 and have not run or really exercised in 25yrs so this hurts a lot … 

so any way I finished week 4 looked at what was coming up and week 5 makes 4 look like a casual walk around a lake, my already diminishing enthusiasm took a hit, I’m not finishing this, it’s too much…

That was Thursday, fast forward to Monday morning, I’m trying to set my mind for Tuesday evening the next gym session and I’m sitting on the train going into work and an advert from Sands comes up on my Facebook, 5K Ribbon run sign up here, Something hit, out of nowhere, I’d had no interest in doing anything like this before, but before I knew it I’d screen shot it sent to my wife and asked should I do this? Within minutes she was saying yes you will smash it, so I signed up!! 

5 minutes after I signed up it knocked me sideways upside down and back the other way, every emotion I had locked down for nearly 21 years hit at once and I sat at my desk and cried. 

My family and I have supported Sands for years and when we were going through the hardest time of our life they were there offering support, people to talk too, places to go I never took it, I couldn’t explain it to myself so how could I talk to anyone else., so I bottled it up, I locked it away and when the rage and hurt build up to much I find a way to knock it down, 

My wife has been the one person I could talk too but even with her I’ve held back, she has her own grief, her own pain she dosnt need mine too, although she would take it in a heart beat but who am I to add that to her. 

Sorry I’m jumping about all over, this has been 21 years in the making, 

So I’ve signed up to do the Ribbon Run and raise awareness and if I can help one person just a little all the sweat all the tears and all the pain will be worth it, 

It may be only 5K to some but to me its to the moon and back it’s doing something for my daughter, a daughter I couldn’t protect when she needed me, showing her she is never forgotten

Thank you to my Sponsors

£55.88

Ashwin Ladwa

Dear Dave Well done for all your efforts for a very worthy cause.

£20

Mum And Dad

£28.44

Susan Hann

Well done Dave - amazing achievement and congratulations for smashing all your targets S xx

£100

Bal & Aimee

words are never enough so all i can give you is my understanding & gratitude 🙏🏼 thankyou x

£33.83

Jess & Alan

Good luck Dave we know your gonna smash it 😀

£28.44

Diane Sims

So proud, 5k is no small feat!

£10

Emily

Good luck!

£20

Arron C

Good luck Dave.

£25

Loki

Good luck! You can do it!

£55.88

Irvine Bowie

£55.88

David Mclaren

Great cause Dave and you will smash it out of the park

£25

Valentin Purghel

Don't break a leg!

£28.44

Dave Scott

Good luck Dave

£28.44

Mick Scott

Good luck mate 👍🏼

£109.25

Clerkenwell Rug Studio

Best of Luck Dave, from all of us in the Clerkenwell Clan

£40.27

Sheridan Perkins

Good luck, Dave!

£12.25

Stewart Baker

£25

Aidan Dauncey

Great cause Dave, run forest runnnn

£25

Jennie Longhurst

You can run Forest Run 🏃🏃🏃🏃

£308

Atkinson Contract Services

Good luck, Dave! All of us at ACS are truly so proud, and we're cheering you on every step of the way!

£23.45

Darren Twelftree

Good luck dave

£109.25

Jason Guest

Good luck Dave

£25

Nichola Parker-croot

I hope the training goes well. All the best for the big day.

£20

Rebecca Lefever

❤️

£10

Grace

Good luck Dave. :)

£10

Keyleigh

£12.25

Heather Wilkins

£17.89

Jon Burke

You got this Dave! Brilliant cause your doing it for too

£10

Ellie Carter

£23.45

Ian Tidmas

Good luck Dave

£28.44

Ann Vickers

You got this. Xx

£10

Becky Lefever

Proud of you babe , you got this 👊

£10

David Lefever