IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR MUM

Maureen Atkinson     26.07.41 - 13.01.11

 

Thankyou for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. As my brother Forrest would say ...

"Momma always says there's an awful lot you could tell about a person by their shoes. Where they're going. Where they've been. I've worn lots of shoes."

I've worn a lot of shoes too, but the pair you're most likely to see me in at the moment are my running shoes.

"That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road, and when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County ......... For no particular reason, I just kept on going........... When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go, you know, I went.

Sir, so why are you running?" 

Because in the not so distant future I will be forty and I want to run a marathon before I totally lose the plot!

"Are you doing this for world peace? Are you doing this for women's rights? Or for the environment? Or for animals? Or for nuclear arms?"

Well, I'm running to raise much-needed funds for Havens Hospices.

My good friends, Sarah & Rob de Cristofano, are grateful for the support of Havens in caring for their ten year old daughter, Lili, who suffers from a very rare disease, Fucosidosis. Sadly, friends Katie & Keith Gregory also now use Little Havens after their eight week-old son, Frazer, last year became critically ill with a brain infection.

In January of this year, my own lovely mum, Little Mo, was diagnosed with advanced terminal cancer. Sadly, she lived less than one day after diagnosis. As mum had worked for many years as a Hospice volunteer, I am passionate about supporting the adult hospice movement.

Havens Hospices is a local charity, and one that is close to my heart.

"One day it started raining, and it didn't quit for four months. We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin' rain... and big ol' fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath."

Rain and I have become very well acquainted - as you can see from some of the photographs!!!!!

"Momma says stupid is as stupid does."

Sometimes when I'm miles from home, I think this really was a case of 'stupid does'!!

"Life is like a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you're gonna get."

Well, I know what I'm gonna get ... blisters, chafing, jogger's nipple, sore legs and bloody sore feet so please dig deep and donate now!

Thank you xxxxxxx

 

In 1982, I watched my first London Marathon. My Dad's friend, Bill Snelgrove, was running, and we stood on Tower Bridge to cheer him on. It was Bill's first marathon and he ran it in an incredible 2 hours and 19 minutes. The excitement of that day has always stayed with me and when I decided to embark on my first marathon, Bill was very supportive (when others thought I was just plain mad), offering to be my mentor. Sadly, Bill died unexpectedly, aged just 54 on 10th January 2011.

May Mum's wings and Bill's legs give me strength on April 17th xxxx

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

 

The Dash Poem

by Linda Ellis

 

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning to the end

 

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years

 

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

 

For it matters not how much we own;

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

 

So think about this long and hard.

Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left,

That can still be rearranged.

 

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what’s true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

 

And be less quick to anger,

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we’ve never loved before.

 

If we treat each other with respect,

And more often wear a smile

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

 

So, when your eulogy is being read

With your life’s actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

 About how you spent your dash?