"When life dealt troubled times and had me down on my knees
There's always been someone there to come along and comfort me
A kind word from a stranger to lend a helping hand
A phone call from a friend just to say I understand
Ain't it kind of funny at the dark end of the road
Someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope"
"I believe there are Angels among us, sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hour, to show us how to live, to teach us how to give, to guide us with a light of love"
Taken from the song Angels among us by Alabama.
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This beautiful little fella died in hospital October 30th 2005 aged just 2 years. His life was cut short so cruelly through a Medulloblastoma, a brain tumour. His parents George and Karen Archer are understandably finding it unbearably hard to come to terms with their loss. But with the help of family and close friends they have found the strength to start up a memorial fund in Thomas's name.
The Fund is called "The Thomas Archer Fund" and has been setup to raise money to help fund research into Childhood Cancers.
I need to lose some weight in fact I need to lose around 3 stone. For my American friends that is 42 pounds.
With the support of The Coventry Evening Telegraph, The Fitness Centre Nuneaton and my own Doctor and of course Kathy my wife, I have decided that The Thomas Archer Fund is a fantastic incentive for me to carry this thing through. I have been toying with the idea of losing weight for some time and needed an incentive to do it. I was surfing the net to try to find a charity that I wanted to do it for. Then in the Coventry Evening Telegraph last night, 08/12/2005 I saw the feature about little Thomas and that was it. I knew that this was the incentive I needed.
As from January 2006 I am on a strict diet. I am going to be weighed by my Doctor and the weight will be recorded on a progress chart. Then every two weeks I will go back to the Doctors and be weighed and my progress will be recorded.
I have had many people pledge money and many more say they will sponsor me either by pledging money for each pound I lose, or by how many Stones I lose and some have just pledged a total amount regardless of how much weight I lose.
So to my friends here in England and to my friends spread all accross America, how about you guys pledging a few pounds or dollars. Any amount will do, it doesn't matter how much or how little. This is a fantastic cause and if between us if we can raise enough money for this research and we can find a cure to save just one child's life, then that has to be the best thing any one could ever do. Let’s raise some cash and save the parents of another beautiful child going through what George and Karen have had to endure.
Thankyou
Ron
Check out these links and learn more about Little Thomas.
http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=16274356%26method=full%26siteid=50003-name_page.html
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http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=16278898%26method=full%26siteid=50003-
www.roncollins.co.uk
Just an update. I have lost 23 pounds now, so I'm well on the way to my target now.
Thanks for all the support guys.
NEW Update
06/04/06 I have just reached 2 stones. Whoohooo 28 pounds.
Just 14 more to go.
NEW UPDATE 03/05/06
31 POUNDS GONE NOW.
Ron
OH And a special thanks to the person who donated £100 anon. Thankyou whoever you are. The words from the song "Angels Among Us" Springs to mind.
UPDATE
07/09/06
WELL FOLKS, I HAVE DONE IT.
I have reached my target weight loss of three stones.
Thanks to everyone for thier support and for the donations. All of it has helped me to my goal.
Thanks everyone
Ron
