200 Mile Challenge for Bury Hospice Walk, Run,Swim or Pedal by March 2008

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: Bury Hospice Association 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 - it will help me keep motivated - I have not visited the gym for a couple of years now so this is a big commitment for me on top of all my family's care needs so give me a boost and help me to help others. . . . Please!!!

In case some of you would like to know our story here it is shortened as much as possible - for those of you who know me that's difficult enough for me!!!!

For a few months now my husband, Peter, has been going to day care at Bury Hospice.  I can’t stress to you enough what a life line this has been for us, particularly me.

Our situation is that Peter was diagnosed with a massive brain tumour in August 2005, just after our holiday in Crete, which required 28 hours of surgery.  He had the first of two operations but unfortunately this operation was deemed a failure due to post-operative complications and subsequently the surgeon decided that he was therefore unable to perform the second, more risky, operation for fear of making Peter’s situation worse.  Peter, post-operatively, was left aphasic, which means he is unable to speak, read or write so he cannot communicate effectively, he has right sided paralysis although he has relearnt to walk short distances with the aid of a purpose made splint but usually uses a wheelchair, he is registered blind (although he has limited vision in his right eye) and he has complex problems with thyroid and pituitary glands.  Peter spent just over a year in hospital undergoing rehabilitation and was officially discharged in September 2006.  Peter is a rehab success although he lives with the diagnosis of a terminal brain tumour and disabilities.  Nobody actually knows how long Peter has to live, whether that is tomorrow or next year, and nobody is certain what will happen along the way.  We live each day as it comes and get by as best as possible.

Maintaining the energy to keep going with Peter’s roller coaster illness with its many complexities and with our three teenage children hasn’t always been easy.  However, last September we were introduced to the Macmillan nurses in Bury who put us in touch with Bury Hospice so that we could get the support that was so lacking from the rest of the NHS.  The care and support they have shown us is beyond words and without them I know our journey would’ve have been so much more difficult. They have taken a huge weight off of my shoulders by being there whenever I need them and simply caring.  I will always be grateful.  In fact it is the best thing that has happened to us since this awful journey began over two years ago.

If you could sponsor me to complete the 200 mile challenge I hope we can, together, ensure Bury Hospice continues with the fantastic job it already does.  I hope this will also help people to stop and think that maybe one day you too may need the help and support that is given by our Hospice, whether as a patient or close relative as none of us can predict our future.  Afterall I never dreamt I would be going through what my family is going through now.

Many thanks for your support, Mandy