Story
<p>Dear all,</p>
<p> I didn't tell many people at the time but my mother died on December the 5th last year 2010. <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';">She took her own life, she was only 69. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';"> She had no previous mental issues or gave any hint, suggestion or clue that she was to take that path. Following my immediate and obvious devastation at the loss, my piecing together of the immediate period before the event and subsequently the year proceeding that, it became apparent that she took this action as the path of least resistance and most favourable outcome (in her eyes). My mother and father were divorced over thirty years ago and she remarried. My mother and step father have been together for all that time which was longer that my parents were married. She loved him dearly. </span></p>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';"> Approximately seven years ago my step father started to lose his sight, had two attacks of Bell's palsy and began suffering minor strokes and then about five years ago was diagnosed with the early onset of dementia. Without going into all the details and issues, my mother increasingly became his only link with the outside World and his sole carer and although she remained outwardly cheerful, clearly it ground her down. They couldn't afford home help and protected housing was too expensive an option and she didn't want to be a burden on anyone else so she took the option of removing herself from the equation which meant the estate in it's entirety would go to supporting my step father. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';"> The reason I am sharing this rather grim information with you is because I will be cycling 500km's over four days 8th - 11th September in the Alps assaulting amongst others, the peaks of Col du Madeleine (1,993 m), Col du Telegraphe (1,566 m), Col du Galibier (2,645 m) and the Col du D'Izoard (2,361 m). Whilst taking on this decidedly odd and possibly mad task, I thought it would be a good opportunity to raise monies for the Princess Royal Trust for Carers. My thinking being that others who find themselves in a similar position to my mother may derive some comfort, support and hopefully relief so they don't feel they have the same limited options my mother clearly felt she had. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';"> If you would be kind enough to sponsor me you can visit the following website: <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Kirk-Chesley">http://www.justgiving.com/Kirk-Chesley</a> or</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';"> alternatively please send cheques to the address below for my attention. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';"> Many thanks for your support.</span></div>
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