Story
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks for taking the time to vivt my JustGiving page.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Please dig deep and donate now, here's my story....</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><strong>Himalayan Hiking Hats</strong></span></div>
</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Nepal Hiking Challenge 1-11 November 2012</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">The challange</span></strong><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">For me, Louisa, (a very average wife, mum, daughter, knitwear designer, dog walker) to embark on a</span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">n amazing 11 day trip to Nepal - including </span>a 7 day rough trek - sleeping in tents, long drop toilets, no washing facilities – only rivers, between 4 and 9 hours daily trekking, amazing adventures, vistas and views. The aim to raise least £3,400 for Macmillan Cancer Support which includes cost of the trip.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">My Goal</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">To raise £5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">My family have sponsored me £1,100 which pays for the cost of the trip. All further money donated goes directly to Macmillan. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Why a Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising challenge?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">In January 2011 Stephen, my husband and rock was diagnosed with Lymphoma. </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">He started aggressive chemotherapy in February and was very ill, he was cared for fantastically and I was supported by Macmillan Cancer Support.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Until last year ‘Cancer’ was a word I’d heard but was something I was totally naïve about. Cancer is all consuming, for those diagnosed and for those supporting them.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">How Macmillan Cancer Support helped us</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Our health district has a specific Macmillan funded unit which meant Stephen was treated nearer to home by Macmillan trained specialist chemotherapy nurses who are amazing. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">The Macmillan website was my lifeline. We were able to find out about Stephens diagnosis, treatment, side effects, both physical and emotional, how and what to tell the children and what to expect during his treatment and afterwards. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">My support for Macmillan Cancer Support</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Not only am I appealing to friends and relatives who know and love us for sponsorship – thank you x </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">I am also putting together a series of seven knitting patterns called ‘Himalayan Hiking Hats’. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">My personal aim is to have my photo taken wearing each one of the hats on the first 6 days of the trek. The seventh hat pattern in the series will be knitted 'en route' and photographed on the 7th (our last) trekking day!</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Your support for Macmillan Cancer Support</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Join me on my challenge by downloading and knitting the hats – great as gifts and stash busting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Three patterns are available now – see photos.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Make a donation and download a pdf copy of the patterns @ </span><a href="http://www.louisaharding.co.uk/macmillan"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">www.louisaharding.co.uk/macmillan</span></span></a><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">This is an honesty box so you don’t have to make a donation, but please do…thank you.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Now</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Since Stephen finished chemotherapy in June 2011 he has continued to be monitored and receives amazing care, he is flourishing – see him wearing the Stripy Karuwa Hat! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">He is back working with me photographing my knitwear collections and supporting me with my trek training, gradually building up our fitness together walking the dog.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">His new mantra, ‘life has to be lived with a capital F for Fun!’ </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Future</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 11pt;">Watch this space for updates on the patterns - 3 more will be available in September, my training (OK - dog walking with our very obliging Springer Spaniel, Bo) and further fundraising ideas to make that goal of £5,000. </span></div>
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