WOW!! 500kms through rural China - what an amazing challenge. Hard work, emotional, but sooo incredible. It's taken a few days to recover and unwind - not taken up the bike again yet! Or the rice wine, but that is another, far more interesting story.
Thank you all so much for your support - moral and financial. It means an awful lot.
To anyone yet to sponsor me who would still like to do it - yes please! It's a fantastic cause, and one which I will continue to support - perhaps in a manner less aggressive to my knees next time though!
And for anyone who's interested, I will post some photos on Facebook.
Thanks again, and lots of love. S.
A HUGE THANK YOU
Thanks to all you wonderful people, we have hit the target! Wow!!
I can't tell you how much this means, it's a cause very close to my heart and something I am absolutely passionate about, so I will try to raise even more, as every pound invested in the development of a cancer vaccine, not just for melanoma but other cancers as well, is so worthwhile. As is supporting our home-grown talent, Prof Dalgleish and his team, who are doing such a fabulous job helping so many on a daily basis.
As for me, training is well and truly intense now, with 55km in the saddle just yesterday, a daily swim or gym or cycle on the agenda and Sundays off to recover (i.e. collapse in a heap and eat chocolate - I'm sure it says that somewhere on my training sheet) - I hope not to let you all down! The fear of the distance and the challenge is really setting in, so fingers crossed. Will update photos soon so you can all have a giggle.
Thanks again, and lots of love xxx
----------------------------------
THANK YOU to all of you who turned out for a glass of bubbly at the RAC on Monday. Professor Dalgleish gave us an update on the work of the CVI, and Connor drew the raffle tickets. Congratulations to the winners: Champagne to Clare House, RAC spa vouchers to Michael Spencer, and Kate Hodges hogged the villa! Thank you also kind friends who bought raffle tickets even tough they couldn't make the event. In all, over 200 tickets sold, which is wonderful. I think we will have raised a good £3000, with pledges still to come, so fingers crossed we'll get over half way to the target. Thanks again - you're wonderful!
--------
*BUBBLY AT THE RAC*
Fundraising event 9 August from 6-8pm. Champagne, canapes, and a raffle to win a week's holiday at a 4-bed villa in the sun! For details email sharonrathbone@aol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------
In May 2011, I'll be cycling 450kms (mostly uphill, I'm sure) as part of Charity Challenge's China Great Wall expedition, in memory of Nigel.
In doing so, I hope to raise £10,000 for an extraordinary charity, Cancer Vaccine Institute, headed by Professor Angus Dalgleish.
I'm supporting the CVI because of the incredible care Nigel received at Gus' hands throughout his two-year battle with malignant melanoma. And because Nigel and I were convinced that if anyone can help to get to the bottom of this hideous disease, it's Gus.
You should know that Gus is an extraordinary scientist and doctor. But over and above his intellectual capabilities, his dedication, care and enthusiasm were an inspiration to Nigel, who thought the absolute world of him.
Therefore, I will be fundraising hard to help Gus and his team continue their vital efforts to find, develop and offer better treatment for cancer through vaccines.
More specifically, and as agreed with Gus, any money donated to the CVI in memory of Nigel will be used towards the development of a test to identify the different melanoma pathways to aid in the selection of treatment protocol. This would have been of great benefit to Nigel, as we were never able to ascertain which particular pathway his disease had taken, which greatly hampered his treatment.
I hope that in future, with the help of the CVI, no malignant melanoma patients will undergo the battery of tests and toxic treatments Nigel faced with such bravery and dignity.
I've started training for next May already. It's 33 degrees out here in the Canaries, and mostly it's uphill or into the wind, so it's a rude awakening for my creaking knees!
And I've set myself a large fundraising target to meet, as I am determined we can make a difference together. Any contribution you can make, large or small, would be very gratefully received. And the sooner the better, as I have to reach my target before I set off.
As an encouragement, I promise to buy a large glass of bubbly to the brave first five that donate - champers at the RAC anyone?
Thank you so much, and much love.
Sharon
