Story

<p style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">Here's a question for you all....... <p style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">2 weeks in the Maldives for Honeymoon or 6 days walking/running the 'Coast to Coast' – the whole 192miles of it, which one would you chose? <p style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">We had this very scenario and we chose the Coast to Coast. Some of you have already told us how mad we are, but things happen in life which then helps put everything into context and opportunities arise that give you the chance to try and make a difference. <p style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">Its definitely going to be a bit different to lazing around on the beach for 14 days but that would just be boring right...? (We are saving that to 2013) <p style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">As some of you will be aware, my dad was diagnosed with an extremely rare, progressive disease called AL Amyloidosis just after Christmas. Amyloidosis is a disease were proteins are unable to breakdown as they should and they deposit themselves within the bodies organs and tissues. In my dads case, the amyloids are depositing themselves within his heart which causes problems in all aspects of everyday life. <p style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">Fortunately due to my dads incredibly strong will and determination not to let the disease get the better of him my father has tackled the first stages of his treatment with immense courage and grit. Over a 10 day period, he was admitted to hospital after suffering terrifying heart complications, tackled Pneumonia, had an ICD implant, braved hospital food (for 10 days) and managed to get daily hugs from the nurses much to mums anguish and on top, started his Chemotherapy. How could anyone not be proud?? <p style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">Challenges have cropped up over the past 3 months which have been hard to accept for such an incredibly proud man, but like a man, he has accepted these changes and moved on as needed. <p style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">After finishing his first course he is doing brilliantly to which we are all so so proud. He has his good days and makes the most of them and has plenty of snoozes on his bad days. <p style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">His next challenge is to take on his forthcoming cycles with the addition of a new drug, but with his drive and stubbornness, sorry, 'determination', we know he will dig in there and come out the other end glowing. <p style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">What we aim to do, 2 days after our wedding, on what I can see been 'the next big honeymoon MUST DO' is to complete the 192 miles of the Coast to Coast over a period of 6 days. We aim to walk the mountains and run the flats. In order to do this, we must complete no less than 32 miles per day, whether this is on the flat or taking in heights of up to 2560ft along the way. <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">As there is no cure for Amyloidosis, funding is crucial to help support the outstanding work that the UCL Amyloidosis Centre do in the hope that one day, they are able to find the breakthrough that is much needed by many people throughout the world. <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">Funds raised for the  UCL Amyloidosis Research Fund  provides financial support to aid their research into the different strains of Amyloidosis and possible treatments. <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">Seeing my father go through this illness makes us so determined to help in any way we can and if that means raising just a small amount in the hope that it will help support their research will make every step of the 192 miles more than worth it, blisters n'all. Please give all you can for such a worthy cause. Your support and encouragement will help us get through the tough parts and help us run that little bit faster along those flat boring bits!!!! <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; border-image: initial; line-height: 130%; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0cm; border: initial none initial;">Thanks all, Clare and Simon xxx Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Clare Austin and Simon Clarke

Clare Austin and Simon Clarke

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