Thanks for visiting Corri & Joe's fundraising page.

We are training hard, with Joe attempting to get fit for his springtime Stem Cell Transplant, and me for the Edinburgh Marathon.

Since Joe's diagnosis in Sept 08, Myeloma UK has provided tremendous support and reassurance to us both, and we're both very keen to give something back. 

Myeloma is a cancer of bone marrow that mainly affects people over the age of 65, but 10% of cases occur in people under 45yrs like Joe. At the moment there is no cure, but in recent years a number of new treatments and improvements in care are helping lots of people live with myeloma. Myeloma UK fund research as well as provide direct support to those affected by myeloma.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Myeloma UK gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now if you can!

Updates

23rd Jan: Some crisp, cold weather has made for great long runs in the last few weeks.  Training is going well - thanks to the girls in Aberdeen who are making sure I get the miles in.  Joe is out-pacing me so I guess his training is on schedule too.

12th Feb: It has been snowing heavily here for a week.  Running is proving interesting.  I spent most of Sunday morning slithering around a 12 mile run on white roads.  It was -5oC when I set out, but glorious sunshine.  Monday was challenging - it was the date for Joe's stem cell harvest and marked the beginning of the end of his preparation phase...as we set out for the hospital it was -12oC and the car died.  Thanks to our neighbour we made in time for a full days harvesting.

28th Feb: Training on Ben Nevis this weekend while Joe and "the boys" worked hard to get the CIC hut wind turbine up and running.  To help my training they kindly left gear in the van at the bottom and made me run up and down to get it....great miles so they tell me!

30th Mar: After a lovely spring like week in North Wales, and lots of great walking and scrambling, Joe and I are back to our running training.  I am now up to 17.5miles and Joe put in a long run in the woods on Sunday.  Joe will go in for his stem cell transplant in a couple of weeks and is feeling fit and strong so I think he can call his preparation a success...time will tell for mine!

11th Apr: Barra (the dog) and  I put in another long run today through the forestry.  Lovely until we turned around and found the wind.  Out again tomorrow to run in the hills with some friends and Joe.  It is Joe's last day of freedom tomorrow for a wee while...he goes in for his transplant on Monday - feeling fit and well prepared.

13th Apr:  Thanks to everyone's generous donations, I am able to reset my fund raising traget  today to £3000.  Thanks again everyone who has given.

19th Apr: I have 2 very tired dogs this morning (and two very tired legs).  First 20 miler yesterday.  At 18 miles - the dogs were still sprinting after rabbits. I, on the other hand, was moving somewhat more carefully!  Joe has successfully negotiated the chemotherapy part of his transplant and is the proud owner of his returned stem cells.  He is doing well so far and I think all the pre transplant training has stood him in good stead (along with my terrible cooking which makes hospital food seem not too bad)

27th Apr: Another 20 miles in the bag and I think the dogs and I look less tired than last week.  The pal I will be running with in Edinburgh's Mum ran London in a fantastic time and placed in the top 40 for her age group (first marathon!). She will certainly be a hard act to follow. Joe is now 10 days into is transplant and should be seeing his new cells start to grow back any day now.  Meantime he is putting his training to good use against an infection that he seems to be admirably out running at the moment.

3rd May: After a week break from running (enforced by having some sort of viral thing) I was back out today and feeling fine.  Just a short run today but will aim to get some miles in mid week.  Wonderfully, Joe has made it across his finishing line and got home yesterday.  After an intense period of inactivity he is now warming down towards a more 'normal' spell in life.

13th May:  Last 20miler under the belt on Saturday.  Now into the nice "tapering" phase. A big thanks today to Liz and Julie and all the bakers for a very sucessful fundraising cake sale.  We raised over £260 and now I need to go run all the pastries off again!

2nd June: Two days post marathon and I can just about move again!  Survived without too much sunburn but gosh - it was hot.  With the help of my pal Allie who I ran with, the great Myeloma team running and supporting, a chap called Robert who persuaded me to run again at 22 miles and a couple of well placed supporters in the last few miles (including Joe), I got round in a personal best of 4hrs and 28 seconds.  Painfully close to getting under the 4hr mark, but what can you do?

A huge thank you to all of you who have given so generously.