90 miles - 205,856 steps

(photos still to be downloaded to website)

DAY 1 BEACHY HEAD - ALFRISTON (Sunday 1^st August)

We woke up to a lovely blue sky and took the 7am train from Chichester to Eastbourne. Zé and Francisco proudly wore their t-shirts which were kindly given to them by Boden especially for the walk. The boys were very excited and it gave us a chance to watch 72 miles of South Downs way glide past us, as we sat in the train! Quite something!

When we arrived in Eastbourne, we unfortunately walked past McDonalds, where Zé insisted he needed Brunch. Both Zé and Francisco ate a rather large burger and massively calorific milkshakes each. We walked along the esplanade in Eastbourne and were lucky enough to find that a free Vintage Bus service was running that day, up to Beachy Head. Pedometers were set.

The boys both had Camelpak water bladders on their backs, which to their amusement, they used as water pistols for the first few hours.  What boy wouldn’t!

We had planned on walking the inland route to Alfriston (8 miles) instead of the coastal path past the Seven Sisters (12 miles), because it was our first day. The views were fabulous. We had our picnic just before we reached Alfriston woods. Once in the woods, we thought we’d never emerge. We got horribly lost, and walked round in almost a three mile circle, before finally finding the right path out towards Alfriston.

By the time we got to Alfriston it was almost 6pm, and it was bliss to arrive at the B&B, where we were greeted with cake and tea. The boys were thrilled to find that there was an Xbox 360 in their room! We all sat in cold baths for ten minutes to prepare our legs for the next day, followed by a great pub supper. Needless to say, the boys enjoyed an hour of the Xbox before lights out at 11pm.

　

DAY 2 ALFRISTON - KINGSTON (Monday 2^nd August)

Another perfect day for walking. A massive breakfast at 8am, and set off at 9.25am. Today was a 12 mile walk. Nothing to report that day, other than beautiful views, happy boys, greedy picnic and another great opportunity for the boys to spend time together. As we walked up the hill towards Rodmell, we heard the most stunning voice singing opera - it turns out that it was Dame Kiri te Kanawa who was due to sing at Glynebourne. We sat for a few minutes just listening. Franc sang in an operatic voice for the next 40 mins!

That night we were going to be staying with friends (Georgina and Roger) who live at the foot of the Downs in Rodmell. We were walking in good time, and decided to take the chance to walk an extra two miles to Kingston, to save time the next day. There was an incredibly steep incline into Kingston, where we arrived at about 5.15pm. We took a little bus back to Rodmell where we met our friends in a pub for supper. Zé and Francisco still had enough energy to play table football for an hour or so. We had a very comfortable and privileged night in our friend’s uncompleted extension, where they kindly stapled up flowery material over the windows to make it a little more cosy. Thank you!!

　

DAY 3 KINGSTON - JACK & JILL WINDMILLS (Tuesday 3^rd August) )

Another big day of walking and day of blue sky and fresh winds. After another delicious breakfast, Georgina kindly dropped us in Kingston at the foot of the hill where we had walked to the previous day. We set off at 10.15am, and we were glad that we had done the extra miles the day before. We crossed the A27 at midday, arriving at Ditchling Beacon at 3.10pm and finally arriving at the Jack and Jill Windmills at 4.20pm. We had about 40 minutes to wait before being picked up by Zé and Francisco’s grandfather. We spent a very comfy night in Buriton at grandparents. It was part of our money saving scheme. The boys lay on the floor watching television and playing lego, and it was a perfect opportunity to see William (4 year old brother) who was staying there for the week.

　

DAY 4 - JACK & JILL WINDMILLS - BRAMBER, STEYNING (Wednesday 4 August)

Early start. Zé and Francisco’s Grandfather drove us just over an hour, back to the Jack and Jill Windmills. It was an overcast day and quite windy. Today the South Downs Way took us over the A23, in the distance we saw Shoreham-by-Sea and we had our picnic at Devil’s Dyke. As we finished our picnic, the heavens opened and a there was a deluge of rain for the rest of the day. We togged up in waterproofs as the clouds covered the top of the Downs. For quite a while we walked in the clouds. From there it was a two and a half hour walk - but this all added to our endurance and the adventure! There was a thunderstorm as we reached the hotel in Bramber near Steyning at 4.15pm. We all overindulged in the Carvery that night, had our invariable cold baths and had a really good night’s sleep.

　

DAY 5 - BRAMBER - AMBERLEY - (Thursday 5 August)

Today was the longest walk, but the weather was perfect - fresh breeze and cloudy. We set off at 9.30am The boys were bounding with energy, and happy. We walked through gorgeous fields of wheat, passed combine harvesters in the fields, and had wonderful views either side of the Downs. We passed Littlehampton today and finally reached our B&B in Amberley at 5.30pm. We were welcomed with a delicious cake and tea, very comfortable rooms and incredibly welcoming hosts. Another pub supper. We enjoyed a pub quiz, and finally went to bed at 10.30pm.

　

DAY 6 - AMBERLEY - COCKING (Friday 6 August)

Massive, delicious breakfast. It was quite a way back up to the top of the Downs today, and we set off quite late. Another wet and windy day. We passed through a field of sheep today that all seemed to be bleating “Ben”! We didn’t really manage to sit down for our picnic today because of the rain. By the time we reached Cocking, we were soaked to the skin. The boys Grandfather met us there with hot chocolate and cake at 5pm. As Francisco ran towards the car, he did a spectacular slip on the wet chalky ground and slid half way under the car, stopping himself going any further by grabbing the tow bar! We spent another night at Grandparents in Buriton. Spending two nights here during the week saved us almost £400 in B&Bs and suppers out.

　

DAY 7 - COCKING - BURITON (Saturday 7 August)

We were dropped back the following morning at exactly where we had finished the day before. Because it was our last day of walking and we had spent the night before in Buriton, we only needed to carry waterproofs, snacks and maps. It was bliss not to be carrying such heavy rucksacks, which were beginning to give us backache. We spotted Portsmouth at 11.35am in the distance, and found some liana in the woods we had to walk through, which the boys had fun swinging on. We reached Harting Down at 1.30pm. Poor Zé , had gone into a wood just 4 miles from the end of the walk, and a heavy branch fell on his leg and bruised it quite badly. He was adamant that he was going to finish the walk. At 1.45pm we saw Harting village - a familiar landmark we had been walking towards for 7 days. Another heavy deluge of rain, but despite this, Zé soldiered on. We finally got to the National Trust Car Park where the boys Grandparents and William met us with an enormous picnic. After the picnic, we only had another 3.5miles to walk. Zé and Francisco were in high spirits. They had not complained at all in the whole week. There was a scream of excitement when we saw a signpost which said “Buriton 0.5miles”! From here the boys ran, and we finally arrived in Buriton at 5.30pm.

　

Although it is 72 miles from Beachy Head to Buriton along the South Downs, in total, with walking down to villages for B&B each night and walking back up onto the Downs each morning, we have estimated that we walked 90miles in total. It was a fantastic experience, a massive achievement and a wonderful bonding session for Ze and Francisco, who talked incessantly for 7 days, mostly about Star Wars!

Thank you to all those who so generously donated to this charity via our website. This huge amount of money raised will enable the Anthony Nolan Trust to place a further 40 bone marrow donors on their register. It costs approximately £125 to tissue type each potential life-saver and to maintain them on their register in the hope that one day they will be the perfect match for someone who has leukaemia. WELL DONE AND THANKYOU TO YOU ALL. One day, somewhere, because of your generosity, you will have helped save a life.

ITV Meridian finally ran their report on Zé and Francisco on GMTV on Wednesday 25^th August.

Zé and Francisco have each been awarded an engraved trophy, medal and certificate from Sharon Wells, the Regional Fundraising Manager for South West England and South Wales. Sharon has been a great support. Thank you.

WE ARE IMMEASURABLY PROUD OF ZÉ AND FRANCISCO FOR THEIR BOUNDLESS ENERGY AND ACHIEVEMENT.

WE LOVE YOU.

A number of local restaurants, businesses and shops have very kindly donated raffle prizes. I will be having a cake, coffee and raffle morning in the next couple of months. I will be adding a list to the website and the amount raised.

Zé and Francisco have got the taste of adventure and next year want to do Snowdon or somewhere equally challenging - for FUN!

 

THEIR STORY

 "If my brother can be brave and donate his bone marrow when he was only four, so can anyone"

In December 2005, at the age of 7, José (Zé ) was diagnosed in Southampton General Hospital, with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a Bone Marrow stem cell disorder. Diagnoses are rare in children.

At the time his brother Francisco was four and he had a new baby brother William, just 6 weeks old.

His only chance of recovery, was a Bone Marrow Transplant.  Francisco was Zé ’s only chance as a sibling donor, as William was too young. Each sibling has a 1 in 4 chance of being a sibling donor. At the time, we did not know how slim the chance was, that Francisco would be a suitable donor. Francisco’s blood was tested. We waited two weeks for the results. The consultant was ecstatic (as were we) that his bone marrow was 100% compatible (with the added bonus that he also had the same blood group) and told us that because of his blood mix and being Anglo-Portuguese, it would have been incredibly difficult, if at all, to find a suitable donor on the Worldwide Bone Marrow Register.

Zé was admitted to hospital on numerous occasions with high fever, as his bone marrow began to fail in fighting infections. He became increasingly tired, pale, breathless, lacking in appetite, losing weight, mouth full of huge ulcers, bruising and developed a limp due to his failing and painful spleen. Horrifically, his blood was the colour of diluted Ribena.

In February 2006 and after a multitude of blood tests, bone marrow biopsies and a line put into his heart through an artery to serve as a portal for chemotherapy and transfusions, in the wonderful Piam Brown Ward in Southampton, he was finally offered a bed in the Isolation in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Bristol. We had waited almost 3 months, knowing that his condition was deteriorating.   Every day that we waited, felt like a lifetime. William was a Godsend and proved to be a huge distraction and Francisco was very accommodating.

Zé endured a week of intense chemotherapy which was pumped through the line in his chest. He was very sick and in pain as the lining of his gut peeled away. He was given morphine for the pain and fed through his nose as his mouth was so ulcerated he couldn’t tolerate eating.  In total Zé received 17 blood and several platelet transfusions - A big thank you to everyone who donates blood. Despite the treatment, he remained brave and even managed to smile sometimes. The nursing staff were wonderful.

On 24^th February, Francisco  went under a General Anaesthetic, and one pint of Bone Marrow was removed via syringes from his lower back, in just one hour. A pressure pad was bandaged to his back and by the afternoon he was allowed to leave the hospital with some Iron supplements, and return to Sams CLIC House where we were all staying during this desperate time. He was very brave and didn’t complain once . At only 4, he didn’t understand the magnitude of his generosity and miraculous gift that he had given his brother Zé . A NEW LIFE.  Later that afternoon, when the nurse walked through the door into Ze's room holding Francisco's Bone Marrow in a small bag, we knew that we had our little boy back. The Bone Marrow was fed through the line in his chest, as he sat in awe with a huge smile on his face. It was a very, very special moment, but there was still a long road ahead.

Ze remained in isolation for four weeks after the Bone Marrow Transplant, and then spent a further 2 weeks with us at Sams CLIC House.  At last, we were able to return home with our three very special little boys. He spent the rest of the year getting stronger and eventually, in September 2006, went back to school.

Four years on, Zé is fit and healthy with an excellent prognosis.  He has paraglided off a mountain in Switzerland, and loves windsurfing, rock climbing, football, tennis and cricket.  He is just like any other boy of his age. He and Francisco are not only the luckiest of brothers, but have been given the opportunity to tell the world that donating Bone Marrow is painless for the donor and lifegiving for the patient.  In March 2006 they both received the honour of Gold Blue Peter Badges for Bravery, which they wear with pride.

Last year, Zé and Francisco decided that they wanted to raise awareness for the desperate need for Bone Marrow Donors worldwide and to do a 72 mile fundraising walk along the South Downs Way for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.  Zé , Francisco, Mum and Dad started the walk from Beachy Head on Sunday 1^st August 2010, walking an average of 12 miles a day and staying enroute at B&Bs along the way. They  arrived in Buriton (near Petersfield) on Saturday 7^th August.

Please see the photos attached. This year we celebrated the 24^th February by visiting the Natural History and Science Museums, and having the day off school!

 

The Anthony Nolan Trust provides a life saving solution to a very large problem.  Every 21 minutes an adult or child in the UK is diagnosed with leukaemia, cancer, or a related illness.  A bone marrow transplant often represents the only cure for leukaemia.  Without a suitable volunteer bone marrow donor, thousands of adults and children will die.

Only 30% of patients are able to find a suitable donor from within their own family, the remaining 70% need to locate a person they have never met before who is willing to donate their bone marrow to save their life.  The Anthony Nolan Trust saves the lives of over 500 adults and children every year.

The Trust relies on charitable donations and financial support from individuals, corporate fundraising, events, trusts and foundations to finance their work as they do not receive any direct government funding.  It costs the charity £125 to tissue type each potential life-saving donor who goes on to their register, in the hope that they may be the "perfect match" for someone who has leukaemia.

For further information on how to become a life-saving donor - please visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk

 

"If my brother can be brave and donate his Bone Marrow when he was only four, so can anyone"!

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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.                                                          

So PLEASE donate, even if its only a small amount - every penny counts!  YOU can help us, to help give lives back.  An ENORMOUS thankyou to all those who have already so generously donated.

A special thankyou too, to the small local businesses and shops that have kindly donated such generous raffle prizes.  A list of prizes and donors to follow shortly.  We will be having a giant (hopefully) coffee morning, £5.00 a ticket which will include coffee, cake and a raffle ticket.

An article on the boys' story was published in Saturday 12 June issue of the Bournemouth Echo, pg. 4. There was also an article in the Echo on Saturday September 4th on pg. 20, and the Advertiser on pg. 14  on Thursday 9th September. 

If you have any difficulty or queries about donating, you can email the Justgiving helpdesk on help@justgiving.net or call 0845 074 4100.