Those of you who've known me for a long (or even a little) time, will know that I'm not what you would call a 'natural sports person' :-) 

Being vertically challenged and well stricken in years and certainly rather on the rotund side, I decided in 2016 that I must embark on 'a journey' to get - not slim and fit - just slimmer and fitter!  18 months on I am still on that journey and have so far shed 65lbs, with quite a few more to go.  My personal challenge which seemed impossible at the beginning, was to complete a 10k.  Running was never really an option - I would be in danger of clubbing myself to death with my chest - so walking it is!  Walking a 10k may seem nothing at all to most people, but to me, who was unable to walk upstairs to bed without being puffed, it's still a challenge.  I was going to do this purely as a personal challenge, but then earlier this year one of my oldest friends (should I say longest - some 46 years since we first met!!) Ann, was tragically diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer. Absolutely horrendous in itself, but as if that wasn't cruel enough, Ann had also been suffering from early onset Alzheimer's . . . . Both her mum and Grandma had been afflicted with the same condition and I was aware of how sad it had been for Ann and her family to watch the demise of her mum.  So when it became apparent that Ann too was suffering symptoms, the effect on her and the family was devastating. Fortunately for Ann, she was blessed with a wonderful husband of 43 years, Gordon, loving children David & Kathryn, their spouses Andy and Kim, grandchildren Alfie & Sofia-Belle - and a wonderful sister Lorna. They simply could not have done more to make her final months, weeks and days as safe and comfortable as possible. BUT - the fear in Ann's eyes as she was aware that something awful was happening, will never leave me.  Here was a beautiful, vital and lively woman, with an incredible mind - deteriorating in front of our eyes.  Ann, very quiet and reserved in general, highly organised and a fantastic home maker, had an encyclopaedic knowledge of football, athletics not to mention a brilliant general knowledge and a sharp wit - conscious that she was rapidly becoming unable to complete even the simplest of tasks, like making mince and tatties, dressing herself, remembering where things were . . . It has been so so sad.   I will miss her a great deal. We must do everything we can to beat this terrible condition - already the predictions for numbers of sufferers in the future is frightening!

If anyone can help me to raise even a little towards my £250 goal in order to help fund research into this heart-breaking condition - in the hope that one day other families won't have to experience what Ann and her family have - I would be so appreciative!!

Thank you!!