******LATEST ******
- TONY COMPLETED THE GREAT NORTH RUN 2011 – AT A FANTASTIC TIME OF 01:48!! SPONSORSHIP IS AS HARD AS EVER TO RAISE BUT PLEASE REMEMBER THERE ARE SO MANY CHARITIES THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM NEPAC INCLUDING:
- RVI Bone Marrow Research
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphona Research
- Northumberland Cancer Support Group
- North Northumberland Day Hospice
- Marie Curie Day Centre
- St Oswald’s Hospice
- Bristol Cancer Support Centre
- RVI Breast Cancer Research
- Tyneside Children’s Hospice
- Tynedale Community Hospice
- Tyneside McMillan Nurses Appeal
NOT FORGETTING THE VERY IMPORTANT Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphona Research
Thank you for visiting our fundraising page. This is a charity very close to our heart and we promise to 'endure' these events not only for fellow Non Hodgkins sufferers and their families but for anyone who has had their world rocked by the big 'C'!!
Here's Kirsty's story ....Life was good, I was pregnant with my third son and although I was seeing my GP about the odd lumps that had appeared on my body, as all initial tests had been returned negative, I received reassurance that all was well. Then my life, as it was, came falling down! After a routine pregnancy scan at 18 weeks I was devastated by the news that sadly my baby had died. Considering myself a strong person, life progressed; I picked myself up and continued to enjoy being Mum to my lively 5 and 2 year old sons. I did however, insist on being given a clean bill of health before thinking about trying for another baby and it was decided that a biopsy would be the only conclusive way of discovering what was the cause of the odd lumps. The NHS was good, I was in within a few days and the atmosphere was very upbeat and positive. It wasn’t to last, on the 23rd December 2002 I was given the type of news that feels like a sledgehammer on your whole world; I had Low Grade Follicular Non Hodgkins Lymphoma......cancer!!!! “We’ll be seeing a lot of you over your life and hopefully into your late fifties/sixties .... We should be able to keep you going until then” said the haematologist. It was the day before Christmas Eve and passing on my unbelievable news to my family was even worse than hearing the news myself. I was 34 and my rosy little world had turned black.
However, I didn’t want my life to be black and my determination to get on with it, beat it, be a happy Mum and be the person I always was, saw me through the uncomfortable bone marrow biopsy, chemo and stem cell harvests that were to come.
My positive attitude and stoic mindset could not have been maintained if I hadn’t had the support of NEPAC. Ironically, a charity that we as a family had supported beforehand. I have eagerly read and absorbed details of the positive work that NEPAC is doing for blood related cancer research. When I underwent the bone biopsy the Doctor enthusiastically informed me that “if you are going to get this cancer, this it the time to get it as there is so many breakthrough cures happening”. These much needed breakthroughs may not happen if it wasn’t for such great charities like NEPAC . It has been 8 years now and although I continue to take maintenance medication, it’s proving so far to be a success, ensuring my good health and my wonderful strong boys a Mum.
I started this page in order to celebrate (in a beneficial way) my 40th Birthday. It has certainly been successful and I've thoroughly enjoyed some of the events that I've done (listed below). However there are still lot's of other events and challenges that I'd like to do in order to both raise the profile of NEPAC and to encourage donations to be made. I've been incredibly busy this year and it's been hard to fit much but I do intend to in the coming months to complete Helvellyn and to walk the Lyke Wake Walk - I'm looking for friends to join in on this one so anyone interested in keeping me company let me know. I'm also open to suggestions in completing any other events no matter how gruelling!
1. ****A C H I E V E D**** Blaydon Race - 9th June 2008 -
I went to Blaydon races
Twas on the 9th of June
Two thousand and Eight it was
On a summer's afternoon
I took the bus from Blaydon
And I was heavy laden (too many pies!)
Away I went along Collingwood Street
To run the race to Blaydon Oh me lads, you should've seen me gannin ...... very red in the face, but I enjoyed it!!! Thanks to those who cheered at the end xxx
2. ****A C H I E V E D**** Coast 2 Coast cycle ride - 12th - 14th July 2008 over 3 days. It was hard but I can honestly say that I loved (almost) every minute of it. The sun shone, Tony provided loads of encouragement and we had lot's of laughs. I've developed a very interesting stripey tan and of course achy bits. Scary on the Hartside Motor Bike race track and best bit Waskerley Way weeeeeee! Thanks to all who helped out with lifts and childcare xxxxxxx
G R E A T N O R T H R U N 's
My husband Tony completed the 2008 & 2009 Great North Run in aid of NEPAC. Thanks to all well wishers.
My Son Ethan completed the Junior Great North. We were very proud to see him come in appox 39th place, not bad out of about 1600!
NORTHERN ROCK CYCLONE CHALLENGE
12th JUNE 2010 - TONY COMPLETED THE NORTHERN ROCK CYCLONE BIKE RIDE. HE WAS MAD ENOUGH TO CHOOSE Ride C – 104 miles AND RESPECTFULLY COMPLETED IT IN 7.5 HOURS! He's slept like a baby for 2 nights - not helped by spending the following day paintballing with Consett Comets U13's in the rain - lots of bruises to show for it!.
3. ****A C H I E V E D**** Boxing Day Dip - brrrrrrr!!!!
What a thing to do on 26th December, leaving a still smelling of Xmas snug home for the wild waves of Whitly Bay. But I did it - can't put into words how cold it was but my legs were bluer than blue! I was helped along by Tony and little Joshua who was ever so brave and as daft as his parents. Ethan stood valiantly on the shore keeping his Gran warm and suffering in silence with flu! More pictures can be seen at http://www.nsvl.org/
4. *************ACHIEVED ***************We did it ....phew!!!! GREAT NORTH RUN completed ....... Tony, 1 hour 50 mins (fantastic considering he was thinking of bowing-out 'cos of an ankle injury) and both Kirsty & Susan, 2 hours 50 (magnificent effort by Susan on her first run!,
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: North East Promenaders Against Cancer (Nepac) 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! Anyway and how, offline donations gratefully excepted too! Offline Donations so far: £5 Brenda - thanks for the encouraging card; £5 Kathleen & Ken; £70 Mam's friends from Barley Mow Dance Club - thanks for the words of support (Ken & Nora, Hazel Quinn,Norma Crosby,Norma and Brian); £45 Aunt Dorothy who I have to thank dearly for the padded cycling shorts!; £20 Rita & Colin; £25 Joan & John; £25 Anne and Ronnie Sproul; £10 Joyce and Brian Cresswell; £20 from anon; £10 Jack & Edna; £14 Mam's friends at Burnopfield Dance Club ; £10 May Smith; £3 Maur; £2 Sue Bax;£5 Richard Ward
