Back in the dark "comfort-eating” winter months, I rather brazenly decided that it would be a good idea to throw myself into a new challenge, and raise funds for a charity that I had an interest in.
The challenge at the back of my mind was the infamous Engadin Ski Marathon, which has been held every year in since 1969. The photos looked incredible - snow capped mountains, blue sky, frozen lakes, and I naively fell for all the PR, quite forgetting the fact that the course is a gruelling 42 kilometres long, has hills known as the "", and attracts entries from approximately 12,000 of the fittest "mountain goats" the alps can muster.
In the spirit of a true "fool hardy Englishman" I entered the race, equipped with only 3 hours of previous cross country skiing experience. My training started (and finished quickly!) in Italy last week, and after 5km of pain and constant falling over, it dawned on that I might have just bitten off more than I could chew!
Anyway, as they say "no pain no gain", and I rather hope that my pain will be to the benefit of the - Research into Wilms Tumour.
I would specifically like to raise money for a new research division into Children's cancer (run by the Doctor who treated a great friend of mine's daughter Isla who had Wilms tumour). About 70 children develop this tumour each year, and I would guess there is nothing more worrying than when you are told your child has been diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately Isla is now in remission, but this is only due to the advances in cancer research. Every day in the ten children are diagnosed with cancer. Over the last decade the overall cure rate for children with cancer has risen to 75%, but unfortunately advances beyond this have reached a plateau.
Why do they need your help? It is imperative to improve this cure rate through greater research - but this costs!! An in-depth profile of each tumour costs about £ 500. They are aiming to profile about 300 tumours in total. This means that they need another £150,000 in 'chip' costs if they are to get the most out of this project. Money raised would be a great support for the research unit, and future parents who under go huge worry when they find their child needs such treatment.
Many thanks for bearing with me, I would be incredibly grateful for any donation (however small!) and I will let you know how I get on.
Kind Regards
Patrick
