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If you want the full story, both pre and post race, keep reading!
It's that time of year again and on Sunday 20 September, I'll be pounding the streets from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to South Shields, running in the 2009 Great North Run. With around 40,000 others to keep me company, I shouldn’t get lost and will hopefully make it in one piece. My training was going well until a bad cough and chest infection a few weeks back put me really behind schedule. Thankfully, that is well behind me now so, if not exactly raring to go, I am confident of getting round the full 13.1 miles, however slowly.
This year, my chosen charity is the CJD Support Network. CJD or Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, is one of a group of rare brain disorders known as prion diseases that occur both in humans and certain animals. The infectious agent, or prion, attacks the brain, killing cells. Prions may exist in the body for many years before symptoms begin, but once they do, death may then result within a year. The number of confirmed cases of CJD has risen steadily in recent years, partly due to the emergence of a new form of the disease - variant CJD, or vCJD, which has been linked to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE; famous for the Mad Cow Disease headines of a few years ago.
The CJD Support Network is a patient support group providing help and support for people with all strains of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, their carers and concerned professionals. Established in 1994 by relatives of people with CJD, it is now recognised as the leading charity for all forms of CJD. Their Charity registration number is 1097173. The CJD Support Network promotes good quality care for people with CJD, by providing training, workshops, conferences and encouraging the adoption of good practice guidelines. It also promotes research into the various forms of CJD and increases awareness of the disease by campaigning through regular contact with Ministers and Senior Government Officials. It gives practical and emotional support to individuals affected by CJD and their families, by supporting families in financial need through caring grants, linking families with similar experiences for mutual support, and also runs a 24/7 National Helpline giving information on all forms of CJD. Take a look at their website www.cjdsupport.net for more details of their work.
My reason for supporting the CJD Network is that it is the 10 year anniversary of the death of one of my best friends, Alan Tittensor. Some of the most enjoyable days of my life were spent with Alan, either playing golf, skiing, or just socializing with him and his family. Within 12 months of being a hale and hearty, successful businessman and sports fanatic, CJD had caused Alan’s death via an increasingly severe downward spiral of forgetfulness, clumsiness, mood swings, difficulty with walking, leading to eventual blindness and the need for total health care. It was only at the very final stages that the diagnosis of CJD was suggested, later confirmed as the cause of death. Since his death, Alan’s widow, and his two sons, have all worked very hard to help the CJD Network, and now seems to be the appropriate time for me to do my bit, too.
So, please help by donating now, by calling me to go on one of my sponsorship forms on 07739 326036 outside work hours, or via this webpage www.justgiving.com/johngirdwood2009cjd
Many thanks for your support.
John Girdwood
Post race - Tuesday 22 September 2009
Just to let you know that I completed the GNR in one piece again on Sunday in, for me, a reasonable time of 2 hours 17 minutes and 22 seconds. It was very hot during the race so I had to walk a bit more than I would have liked, but reaching the finish was much more important than saving a minute or two. At least I still got to South Shields in time to see the Red Arrows display, although high-fiving Sting at the start was nearly as exciting.
Funds are coming in pretty well and I am just over half way to my target of £1000. If you haven't had chance to donate online or let me know what you want to do, as yet, then now is the time to act, please. Any donations will be more than willingly and gratefully received, no matter how large or small, and the sooner you respond, the less hassle you will get from me in the long run, so you know it makes sense!
This year, I tried to strike a suitable pose when passing the photo points on route. If any of them come out with me looking OK, or even recognisable, I'll let you know in due course.
Hope to hear from you again soon and many thanks for your kind and generous support.
Regards
John Girdwood
