Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

As a cancer patient who has benefited from going on the Odyssey programme, I want to try and explain to you how much it can mean to other sufferers to be able to attend the programme.

First off, the Odyssey programme gives cancer sufferers some time out, and a break away from their everyday anxieties, and the strain of coping with cancer.

Secondly, through an active week of outdoor challenges, it replaces these everyday anxieties, and strain with a great zest for life, and for living, despite their cancer.

The Odyssey programme, run only in Kent, for some ten years has benefited about 600 cancer sufferers, and people on the programme have ranged in age from 18 years to 84 years. On the programme that I attended, I met other cancer sufferers, some of them in the middle of chemotherapy treatment, some of them in constant pain, and I realised, not for the first time, that no matter how badly off that I thought that I was, there is always someone who is worse off. They told us that no special abilities were required to attend the programme - just lots of enthusiastic participation. They told us that there would be no TV, and we should leave our mobile, phones and personal stereos at home. They did not tell us in advance what we would be doing, in fact each day's activity was intentionally kept under wraps as part of their revelation technique. Consequently, the group often had to achieve some success in a particular challenge to be able to work out where we were going to next, or what our next challenge was likely to be. That's why I can't really elaborate on what the actual challenges involve. We were asked on completion of our programme not to 'Let on' because they don't want cancer sufferers attending future programmes to be forewarned about what to expect. What the programme was not about, was a week of therapy, in fact the staff went out of their way not to ask you about your cancer, because that is not what the programme is about. The Staff knew that everyone there had some form of cancer, but that was just a qualification to be on the programme. What it was about, was giving each individual on the programme the opportunity to tackle various outdoor challenges at their particular ability, and level. Because there was no pressure to tackle the many challenges, each person had to decide just how much they wanted to tackle, and each did so in their own way, and each to their own particular ability. With the fantastic support and encouragement of the staff, and of other group members, the individual participant always succeeded in the various challenges, each to his, or her own particular level. I believe that their success in the challenges sub consciously becomes a subsequent strengthening of their attitude, and their frame of mind, as to how they could handle, and regard their own particular cancer. You may notice that I tend to use the words 'Succeed', and 'Success' a lot - that is because to my mind, these are the operative words of the Odyssey programme, and why it works. Success in their challenges encourages; enthuses and enables and encourages the participants to help themselves, by picking themselves up, dusting themselves off, and moving forward with a long lasting and greater determination to fight their illness. Completion of the Odyssey programme challenges certainly gave me a positive and lasting effect upon my confidence; a greater ability to handle the uncertainties of my life; an increased sense of optimism about my future, and a determined resolve to fight my illness. At the end of my week with Odyssey, my feelings of satisfaction and success in my challenges made me feel that if I can do these things, then I can and will succeed in not letting my cancer get the better of me. In February 2004 I was given 12 to 18 months to live, so I am pleased to tell you that I am now beating those odds. I am now in the middle of my third chemotherapy treatment, something almost unheard of for lung cancer patients, as they usually have passed on, or are not fit enough to take it by this time. I have also had a course of radiotherapy treatment. I firmly believe that the deciding factors in my gaining me this extra time are my positive attitude and determination, boosted and reinforced by my success with the Odyssey outdoor challenges, my treatments, and lots of Prayers from my friends, and I am determined to do the Sahara Trek in February 2006. The Trek is 120 km over the sand dunes and rocks of the Morocco Sahara, which we will complete in 6 days, carrying our day's water ration, and sleeping in Bedouin tents at night. Doing the Sahara trek will allow me to put something back into Odyssey; help other cancer sufferers, and it will also give me personally a much needed target to aim at, and focus on. Realistically, I know that once my cancer does start ducking and diving seriously, and decides to move elsewhere in my body, that I will ultimately not be able to beat it - But I want to give it a damn good run for its money. The money that we are raising is not for me, I am merely acting as a catalyst to raise money, to enable Odyssey to expand its work and increase its areas of operation further than Kent, to offer the programme to other cancer sufferers in other areas in the UK. So with your help and support for Odyssey, other cancer sufferers in different parts of the UK will soon be able to take part in the Odyssey programme, and their success in their outdoor challenges will strengthen their outlook and their attitude to fighting their own particular cancer. Some of them will undoubtedly succeed, and will actually beat their cancer. My Odyssey fundraising has now got off to a very good start, and I am very positive that we will make the required minimum sponsor money, and I will also make it to the end of the trek as well. Thank you again for your support. Go well !! Len