A MARATHON OF A MESSAGE - PLEASE READ TO THE END!!! I've been to loads of marathons and half-marathons and watched in awe as friends and family pounded the asphalt with determined expressions, gritty courage and not a little exhaustion. Oh no, not me, I always thought - I'm fine with sponsoring other people (aren't they brave), but me running - no way!! That was until one morning I opened the local paper to find a double page spread on Higgy's Heroes - a team running the Stroud Half Marathon to raise funds and awareness of the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre. Imagine my surprise (horror?) to see my photo and the announcement that I was running!!! A conspiracy had taken place between Ashley, Sports Editor of the Stroud News and Journal, and Alastair, my husband! Alastair insists I agreed - truth is I had said in a shocked and hushed tone upon vaguely hearing of the idea, "hmmm...not sure...don't think I'm a runner....might consider it...but really not sure...." So they took that as a YES! And here I am weeks into a training schedule I never knew I could attempt and do you know what? I am inspired. Utterly and absolutely. In fact I think I am probably boring people about it everywhere I go! Thing is I am married to a rock of a man, whose handling of his own diagnosis with MS, one of the scariest diseases, is an example to us all. He describes trying to walk as equivalent to running through treacle. And that's just one of the symptoms. Imagine that for a moment. But is he self-pitying? Is he for one second allowing the uncertainties of the future to taint his view of life? Never. After making the courageous decision to step down from one of the best jobs in the whole world as a BBC rugby commentator - a job he loved so utterly, he is doing everything he can to raise awareness of this unpredictable and frightening disease that affects 85,000 (a conservative estimate). He considers himself lucky, blessed even, that so many friends and relatives have helped him in so many ways. He is acutely conscious of the fact that for many people dealing with this disease, there is no immediate support. It's not a "sexy" disease, there is no known cause (only loads of theories) and no known cure. Lots of people don't even know what it is. But one of the ways to cope is by knowing how. That's where this fantastic charity, the MSRC comes in. And wow, what a charity. Personally I've never come across a more committed and more effective organisation, helping people just keep on keeping on. The medical world goes on trying to crack the code to beat MS and maybe it will happen one day....but to deal with it on a day to day basis is another game and that is where your help comes in. PLEASE PLEASE DONATE WHATEVER YOU CAN - I know it's a tough time at the moment and I know we are all constantly asked to sponsor this and sponsor that. But this is special. MS cruelly hits young people at the prime of their lives. And I can't thank you enough for helping to make their lives at least a little easier. *********************** Thanks for visiting Higgysheroes2 fundraising page.

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