In 2003 one of my best friends was diagnosed with a Brain Tumour. After surgery his life returned to reasonable normality, then a few years later a routine scan showed new growth. After several years of a continually worsening condition and quality of life, Phil and his fiancé, Sam, got married in May 2009. I was the best man at his wedding.
Phil sadly passed away on 6th April 2010, surrounded by his new wife and family. I had the great honour of giving the eulogy at his funeral.
Phil was a great bloke who took everything life threw at him on the chin and just got on with it. Brain Tumour UK was a great help to both Phil and his family over the years, and so in Phil's memory I have decided to do some stupid things to raise as much money as possible.
1) 22nd August 2010 - I am running a 31 mile trail ultra-marathon, starting just north of Nottingham, running through Sherwood Forest and finishing at Nottingham Castle.
DONE - FINISHED 10th in 5hr 7mins 34secs
2) On Wednesday 13th October I am running all day (8am - 5pm) in work. Guess the combined mileage competition, raffle with excellent prizes from local business, cake sale and quiz. A friend and colleague will be on his bike all day - an employee in his team at work is still fighting a Brain Tumour and so Gavin was very keen to help the chairty as much as he could.
DONE - I ran 47 miles. Gavin cycled 127.4 miles. Total mileage 174.4 - Event raised £3200 included in this overall total on the page.
See photos for picture of Gav and I.
Link to Bristol Evening Post Article.
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/marathon-just-wasn-t-bigger/article-2803363-detail/article.html
3) Over the weekend 12th - 14th November I am running 82 miles over 3 days (more than a full marathon a day) on the Ridgeway Path, an ancient pathway dating back to 3000BC, Britains oldest. The terrain is undulating to say the least (9500ft of going up, and for those of you who think down is easy, its actually more difficult!). It will no doubt be wet and the accommodation certainly isnt comfortable. (unlike Eddie Izzards nice hotels, posh meals and ice baths!!!)
DONE - Got lost on day 1 and did 2 miles extra. So 84 overall. 29miles (31) day 1 - 6h 11m. 27miles - 5h 7m. 26.2miles day 3 - 4h 50m. Finished joint 39th out of circa 130 who finished all 3 days.
See photos for picture of me at the finish. Photo with John from London who I ran all 3 days with (John does 3:05 marathons so I think I did well to keep up - others would say I slowed him down!)
4) On Saturday 5th February 2011 I am running in "The Thames Trot". This is a 50 mile Ultra Marathon following the path of the Thames from just south of Oxford to Henely-on-Thames. Expected finishing time around 11 hours.
DONE - Hardest thing I have ever done! 9hr 1min. No idea what position just pleased to finish!
5) I have been lucky enough to secure a place with Brain Tumour UK at the Virgin London Marathon 2011. Havent run more than 4 miles since Thames Trot. Got back into real training 10 days before VLM. Be pleased just to finish, circa 4hr 30 min.
DONE - correction this was the hardest thing I have ever done giving the non existent training schedule. 4hr 3 mins 53 secs. Finished about 10,000th but whose counting. See picture of me 20 mins after the finish.
So...I need as much motivation as possible to make sure I finish these events as only then can I morally ask for everyones hard earned cash!
I have this month been featured in a national online running magazine. Page 50. www.runningfreemag.com
A huge thank you in anticipation of your generosity.
Steve West
