Dear Supporter

I have 2 challenges ahead, which I am using to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The first is the Moonwalk - a marathon in distance, and a big effort as is overnight i.

Ok so it is not as hard as husband John who just did the London Marathon, but it is the same distance and I have to stay awake all night. He did the marathon in 3 hours 49 so I am aiming to do the moonwalk in less than 7 hours 38mins ie double his time..........

The second event is the BUPA 10K on may 26th, only 9 days later - a 10K run, which may prove more exhausting but at least it will be in the daytime.

Please sponsor me, and help us to fight breast cancer together.

And finally, I am doing this in honour of  Yvonne, who did the moonwalk herself 4 years ago, 6 months before she died, aged 32, from breast cancer. A brave and wonderful person who showed us all how to live well and was an inspiration right to the end.

Alison

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Breakthrough Breast Cancer will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.

2nd May : last week I did about a 9 mile walk , in 2 hours and 20mins, and ran 6.5 km , not much quicker!! ( in 36 minutes).  only 2 weeks to walking a marathon and feeling a bit more nervous now, but even more determined as a close friend found out on saturday, that she too has breast cancer.

10th may: not done so much walking training this week but have done 2x 8km runs, both in about 60 mins, Hoping this will count as training for the walk as well as the run! Starting to feel nervous about next weekend........

19th May: The Moonwalk is done! We eventually left Playtex City ( a massive pink tent in Hyde Park) at around 11.30pm, on Saturday night, and marched around Hyde Park towards Buckingham Palace, then down the Mall to Admiralty Arch and down Whitehall before bearing east along the embankment. It was an amazing sight with all these women (around 12,000) walking along in pink hats and bras!. it was quite cold but ok as we were moving pretty quickly.

Vicky kept us going speedily, aiming for a 4mph pace...........Just after Blackfriars Bridge we turned away from the river, around Cannon Street, and then the Tower of London, before going over Tower Bridge to the south bank. It was amazing how much traffic and how many people there were, out and about at 2-3am!!

Heading back west along the south bank, past Tate Modern and the Festival Hall, past the London eye, and on towards Vauxhall, eventually got to Battersea, and turned into Battersea park. It was quite cold now and the tops went back on! Only half way though...........

Then a long slog across the Albert Bridge and winding around West London, Fulham and Kensington area, rather boring,  starting to get quite tired, legs hurting now! But at the 20 mile mark, got back to Albert Bridge and saw sun rising on the Thames which lifted the spirit somewhat. If not the legs and feet......

Back along the north Bank past Tate Gallery, to Westminster, and back up past Horseguards parade back through Hyde Park Corner and into the park again. The truly worst bit was between 24 and 26, when you can see the pink tent of the finish and you are walking AWAY from it, trekking aroung Hyde Park for the last 2 miles.

Finally finished in 7 hours 11 minutes, a great experience for a great cause. So definately within my hoped for time, of less than double John's run, and also a PB for Vicky.

Now just hoping that the blisters and legs are healed enough to try to run the 10K next Monday...........

Monday 26th May: BUPA 10K

Well it was a horrendous day weather-wise, pouring with rain, cold and windy - I have never run in rain before being a bit of a fair-weather type of exerciser. But with the children and my faithful parents all turning out very early to cheer us on, off we went to Green Park.

It was great to line up with John ( husband) and my sister, who is very fit! and only 50 yards behind Martin Lel, winner of the London Marathon, and Mo Farah, British number 1. It was very well organised and despite the pouring rain we were off on the dot of 10am. John and Nonie sprinted off, and I ran gently along, somehow having got myself in the fast group. Normally I intersperse running with the odd minute of walking but it wasn't really possible as everyone around me was running steadily, and the hordes of supporters cheering you on, so I continued running and got to the 5k mark in a PB time!

Was great to see Martin Lel and the other elite runners on their way back, sprinting at 7km gone, faster than I could run 50metres. And my parents and children were there to cheer us on at the 2km and 8km marks, really helped.

The whole atmosphere was superb despite the weather with at least 5 or 6 drum groups out around the course, playing us on, and plenty of supporters. Only about 6100 of the 12,000 entrants ran and i was very pleased to come in at 70 mins 10 secs. John and Nonie did extremely well, at 44 and 52 mins respectively, John coming in at 348th out of the 6100 , most impressive.

But thanks also to all my sponsors who are helping to raise money to fight breast cancer.

Thank you all

Alison