More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A dad-of-twins is completing two marathons tomorrow in aid of Twins Trust.
Richard Hayward, of Willesborough, Ashford, will take on two marathons tomorrow across four disciplines.
He hopes to rack up the 52 miles by running, rowing, skiing and on his assault bike.
Richard and wife Laura were surprised when - 12 weeks into her pregnancy - they were told they were having two boys.
He recalls: “Ironically in one of the parenting books I had read out to my wife the week before the scan, a line read something like 'If you find out you are expecting multiples put the book down and sleep now to get you ready.'
"We laughed at how there are no twins in our family but how cool that would be. Little did we know!”
As both parents are fitness fanatics, they have highlighted their belief that Laura's regular training during pregnancy aided the birth of sons George and Freddie at St Helier Hospital in November 2019.
"The information on feeding twins was a lifeline...”
The dad-of-two now wants to give back to Twins Trust, which helped them through the boys' early lives.
Speaking about the UK's only charity supporting multiple births, Richard said: "Twins Trust is such an incredible charity.
"It helps people who might need a lot of support, physically and emotionally, campaigns nationally for multiple birth families to get better care and not be forgotten and raises funds for research.
“For our family, Twins Trust has been such a useful resource bank of advice and knowledge - we have learnt so much and needed to as we had no idea what to expect. The information on feeding twins was a lifeline.”
He trained in secret for the event, before putting up a public JustGiving page which has so far raised more than £4,000.
Looking forward to tomorrow's event's, Richard said last week: "This is a big challenge.
"I’m still very daunted but have a bit more time to continue to get myself in the best possible fitness to complete it on the day."
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